THE VOICE OF CHICAGO’S GAY, LESBIAN, BI AND TRANS COMMUNITY SINCE 1985 Sept. 10, 2008 • vol 23 no 52 www.WindyCityMediaGroup.com Mulligan’s challenges By AMY WOOTEN

Over the past 16 years, Republican State Rep. Rosemary Mulligan has shown that she isn’t afraid of going against the grain. In 1992, Mulligan first made waves when she defeated Penny Pullen, an ultraconservative, Susan anti-gay Republican incumbent of the 65th Dis- trict, which covers the Northwest suburbs such page 17 Sarandon as Des Plaines and Park Ridge. Back then, Mulli- gan challenged her own party, and has been ad- vocating for change within her party ever since. Mulligan, an LGBT ally and supporter of a wom- an’s right to choose, doesn’t fit the Republican stereotype. She was one of the first Republican sponsors of former Rep. Larry McKeon’s amend- ment to the Illinois Human Rights Act to include sexual orientation and gender identity. She also helped double the state’s AIDS budget back in 1995. Rome In November, Mulligan faces a Democratic Turn to page 6 Sweet Illinois State Rep. Rosemary Mulligan. Rome page 11 There was wild applause for the appearances Democrat Sen. Barack Obama will be another REP. NAT’L CONVENTION of family values and jeers against activist judg- very close contest. The latest polls—conducted es. But all the while the GOP was emphasizing Sept. 2-4—show Obama up by only two to four The GOP its intention to hoist a social conservative flag points, with a margin of error of two points. over its march to the White House, it was set- “John McCain will lose this election unless he ting into motion a madcap mixture of tactics—a gets enough independent votes,” said Sammon, and gays nominee who is willing to be identified in his in- explaining why he believes the McCain campaign was willing to send its national political direc- By LISA keen, keen news service troductory convention video as a “mama’s boy;” the party’s first-ever female vice presidential tor, Mike DuHaime, to speak at an LCR event The Republican National Convention this week nominee; and a willingness, albeit quiet, to seek Sept. 2, and send senior advisor Steve Schmidt relied heavily on the American people’s inabil- the support of gay voters and independents who to deliver its “respects” Sept. 4. ity to hear co-optations and see incongruences. prefer a more politically moderate pitch. DuHaime, “on behalf of Senator McCain and Amigas Speaker after speaker, including nominee Sen. Patrick Sammon, president of the national the campaign,” thanked an audience of about gay Republican group Log Cabin Republicans 200 for the LCR endorsement. He added that the page 20 John McCain, used words and phrases that stood Latinas out during the Democratic National Convention (LCR), said he has no doubt that two top Mc- Turn to page 4 the previous week in Denver. The nominee wants Cain campaign leaders visited the group during “change,” and the opponent doesn’t “get it.” the convention because they know the race with

September 10, 2008 #961 A tale of nightspots two conventions n By AMY WOOTEN Artsy Fartsy pick it up Sometimes all you need for a good cover is a picture from Hydrate and some Photoshoppin’ skillz. inSIDE Overall, the local lesbians and gays who were out Meet the new Miss It’s 2 a.m. Where the hell Continental. are you? page 20 page 23 take it home on the convention floor as delegates during the four-day Democratic National Convention (DNC) in Denver called it inspirational because of its inclusion and diversity, and a stark contrast to the Republican National Convention (RNC). Openly gay Illinois delegate Mark Demich told

Turn to page 5 www.WindyCityQueercast.com U.S. Rep. Jan Schakowsky and lesbian delegate Jackie Kaplan at the 2008 Democratic National Convention. Photo courtesy of Kaplan

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Turn of the Century is the recipient AMERICAN AIRLINES, Exclusive Airline of Goodman Theatre. of an Edgerton Foundation New KRAFT, Principal Sponsor of the free Student Subscription Series. American Plays Award PETTERINO’S, Promotional Partner for Turn of the Century. Photo Lead Corporate Sponsor Major Corporate Sponsors by Todd Rosenberg. Image design and direction by Kelly Rickert. Sept. 10, 2008 3 GET YOUR index FRIENDS TOGETHER News MSM and HIV 4 AND CELEBRATE The GOP and gays in 2008 4 Bailiwick is moving 5 THE WOMEN A tale of two conventions 5 Austriaco vs. Mulligan 6 Out & Proud signings 7 Nat’l news 7 D’Emilio: Risky business 8 Columbia College’s Lott Hill 8 Passages/celebrations of life 9 Quotelines 9 The sultry Eva Mendes is one of a group Guest view: Rep. Harris; letters 10 of famous actress taking part in The Women. See what Richard Knight, Jr., thinks of the film on page 16. ENTERTAINMENT Visiting Rome 11 Theater 12 Knight at the Movies 16 ‘True Blood’ interview 16 Susan Sarandon 17 Jessica’s goodbye; W event 19 Amigas Latinas marks 13 20

OUTLINES Real estate; classifieds 18 Pets 20 Calendar 21 Q&B taking a break 21 Sand, skirts and spikes made for an Sports: Spike’d, softball 22 interesting mix at Chicago House’s fundraiser. See page 22. Photo by Ross Forman

This week’s online- www. only features Windy include: —World roundup City —Dish List, includ- Media ing a roundup of a chocolate salon Group (right) —Media Watch .com —An interview with The Shondes’ drummer

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September 10, 2008 Check out photos from Miss #961

Continental 2008 at the Park Soundtrack Available On West, Steamworks’ pajama party at Hydrate and more. Photo by Alexandra Klimczak nightspots IN THEATERS Artsy Fartsy n Sometimes all you need for a good cover is a picture from Hydrate and some Photoshoppin’ skillz. inSIDE Meet the new Miss It’s 2 a.m. Where the hell Continental. are you? page 20 page 23 SEPTEMBER 12

THE WOMEN 4/C 1/2 PAGE NON BLEED: 4.25” X 13” I 4 Sept. 10, 2008 more likely than gay-identified men to be in- ing major problems with their own sexuality,” where are disproportionately affected by the The invisible fected with HIV. Piot said to laughter and applause. “It is totally epidemic; “Make that the given and ask coun- “In India, and I think it is probably true in absurd, but it is also true.” tries to prove otherwise” in their competition worldwide HIV other countries, if you are male identified, you He said, “A gay-rights movement, for lack of a for funding. are not effeminate at all, and you are married better term, is really essential, but we are no- Jeffrey O’Malley, who runs the HIV programs epidemic: MSM to a woman, you have met societal goals. It where on this in many, many countries. AIDS is for the United Nations Development Program, By Bob Roehr means that the man can do what he wants. He now creating a small hole in this wall of ho- said the UN family of agencies is assembling feels that I’m not really gay because I’m not like mophobia,” allowing more opportunity for peo- a unified approach to the HIV and MSM, which Men who have sex with men (MSM) are at the these other people; I have sex with a woman ple to express their sexuality. should be in place by the end of the year. heart of the HIV epidemic throughout the world, and I’m married.” “We need to do all that we can to support the “We need to speak up for ourselves and allow yet they remain invisible. It is because of deni- Mayer thinks it likely that prevention messages emerging gay groups and activities…we need to other populations to speak for themselves,” said al, stigma, and violence that permeate societies developed for gay men probably don’t resonate make sure that is not killed. Third, where we are the openly gay O’Malley. “We need to focus on and their governments on every continent. with MSM who do not identify as gay. still in the dark ages, we have to develop strate- sexual minorities, but we have to do it in a way Even in the United States—where the epidem- Wilson pointed to one survey of 10,000 people gies that not only support it, but also not put that governments with concentrated epidemics ic was first identified among gay men more than in Saigon where “not a single person acknowl- our colleagues at risk,” said Piot. don’t use this as an excuse to walk away from 25 years ago and more than half of all infections edged having sex with another man.” It is as David Winters, a manager with the Global Fund AIDS fighting.” are attributed to male/male sexual contact— emblematic of the problem that agencies and for AIDS, TB, and Malaria, said that over the first “We also have to make sure that we avoid the there continues to be a downplaying of that officials face in even understanding patterns of five years of the program, “while there was never backlashes that can put people at real risk of fact. Prevention resources are not proportionally infection. a resistance to funding MSM programs or gen- violence and death.” In the most oppressive allocated to reach this affected population. The situation is even worse in most of Africa. der—women and girls—neither have been very countries not only is homosexuality illegal, but The situation is even worse in most of the de- The Republic of South Africa does offer legal visible.” there are huge legal barriers and cultural barriers veloping world, as was made clear at a confer- protection and equality to gays, but the law is A core principle of the Global Fund is country to even providing services. “In those environ- ence on MSM and HIV in Mexico City, prior to the far ahead of social attitudes. Elsewhere on the ownership, with the initiative coming from the ments we need to work carefully and not put XVII International AIDS Conference. continent, homosexual acts often are illegal and national governments. “That sounds all well and people’s lives at risk.” “What we are seeing today in Asia, in every the laws are enforced. good, but when you are being excluded from the “The way to do that is lead through the health single major city that we have looked at, are Three gay, lesbian and trans activists were ar- country level program, it doesn’t mean a heck of service and health professionals.” epidemics of HIV of men who have sex with men rested in Uganda at a June meeting organized a lot.” that remind me of what we saw in the US, and by PEPFAR, the international U.S. AIDS effort, Funding guidelines on gender recently have Western Europe, and Australia in the 1980s,” when they protested their nation’s lack of HIV been revised so that the default position is for said Peter Piot, executive director of UNAIDS. prevention services for those communities. the inclusion of programs for women. Winters Modeling suggests that by 2020, half of all new After the release one of them, Usaam “Auf” said the assumption should be that MSM every- infections in Asia will be among MSM. Kukwaya, was abducted, held for 24 hours and But the response with targeted prevention “is tortured by persons claiming to be police. But at GOP from cover Other speakers mocked the Democratic tick- not there at all.” Piot pointed to “homophobia least he wasn’t killed; in Iraq, religious zealots et, too, often implying things about their po- in all its forms” as “one of the top five obstacles are hunting down and executing gays. both the campaign and a McCain administra- sitions that are flatly not true. For instance, to really stopping this epidemic.” In Botswana, the government initially even tion would be “inclusive.” former Republican presidential candidate Mike David Wilson, who heads up the World Bank’s refused to allow a study of MSM proposed by Schmidt, whom Sammon likened to Karl Rove, Huckabee said that McCain “doesn’t want to HIV efforts, said within the last five years we local researchers in collaboration with Johns President Bush’s chief strategist, paid his and change the definition of marriage,” implying have come to realize that “HIV epidemics are Hopkins University. the campaign’s “respects” to LCR, adding that that Obama does. In fact, Obama is opposed to far more concentrated than we had believed. “Men who have sex with men are systematical- the gay group was “an important one in the same-sex marriage. General population heterosexual transmission is ly missing in most of our national surveillance fabric of our party.” It was somewhat startling Sept. 4, however, only the major source in two regions, Africa and systems,” said Wilson. The scant data available “I admire your organization,” said Schmidt. when a final video about the nominee began the Caribbean.” shows that even in the heart of the generalized “Keep fighting for what you believe, because airing and one of its first clips was from an “Everywhere else we are facing concentrated epidemic in Africa, MSM are about four-fold more the day is going to come.” interview with McCain’s 96-year-old mother in epidemics of sex workers, drug users, and men likely than heterosexuals to be infected with the The Advocate reported—and YouTube foot- which she summed up her son up as “a mama’s who have sex with men. They are the norm, not virus. age shows—that Schmidt also shared with the boy.” It is a term sometimes used to suggest a the exception. And our programs globally need He pointed to a recent study from the port luncheon audience Sept. 4 that he has a les- man is effeminate. to reflect this.” city of Mombasa, Kenya showing recent infec- bian sister and that she and her partner are But the key image being conjured of McCain In the countries of Latin America, MSM consti- tions among MSM as being “three times higher important to him and his family. at the convention this week was that of an tute anywhere from half to 90 percent of local than female sex workers. It suggests that the Sammon said the appearances of DuHaime enormously tough war hero. Although his wife, infections. “It is massively higher than in sex female sex work epidemic is an old epidemic and and Schmidt indicate the party knows “it’s go- Cindy, suggested McCain prefers to remain workers,” said Wilson. “I don’t think that is suf- is slowing down, but epidemics among MSM are ing to need a lot more support, be more in- “quiet” about his time as a prisoner of war dur- ficiently understood.” new epidemics which are gaining momentum.” clusive on lesbian and gay issues” in order to ing Vietnam, nearly every convention speaker appeal to independent and gay voters. and video—and even the candidate himself— Identity and persecution Changing the dynamic Exit polls indicated that President Bush put significant reliance on that experience. Kenneth Mayer, with Fenway Community “As a straight man, I have difficulty under- won 25 percent of the gay vote in 2000 and Meanwhile, reaction to the LCR endorsement Health in Boston, said a study of MSM that they standing this obsessive homophobia. It tells me 23 percent in 2004, but a recent Harris poll of the McCain-Palin ticket drew strong criticism collaborated on in Mumbai (formally Bombay), that there is something going on in the heads suggested McCain might get as little as 10 per- from many quarters of the LGBT community. India’ largest city, found that married men were of people—that must mean that they are hav- cent. Sammon said that poll, based on the Web EqualityGiving.org, a Web site that provides fi- responses of only 178 LGBT people, is not a nancial and educational resources for pro-LGBT reliable indicator of the gay vote. concerns, suggested LCR misrepresented McCa- “McCain will easily surpass Bush’s vote,” in’s opposition to the Federal Marriage Amend- Hearing is invisible... said Sammon. “He’s a much more inclusive ment. It says McCain’s opposition was based Quite like a hearing aid can be! candidate.” Sammon said he continues to hear on his defense of states’ rights and noted he anecdotal evidence that suggests many LGBT actively supported a similar amendment pro- Democrats who initially supported Sen. Hillary posed in Arizona in 2006. AAAudio Advantage Aids Clinton might cross party lines to vote for Mc- The Human Rights Campaign responded to Friendly Neighborhood Hearing Care Services Cain. the endorsement by pointing out that the Re- publican Party “has declared in its platform 3630 N. Ashland Avenue, Chicago To cross, or not to cross that they want to pass the federal marriage (773) 348-8760 It seems unlikely, however, that vice-presi- amendment.” www.audioadvantageaids.com dential running mate Sarah Palin will attract “Their party’s platform also calls gay and that crossover. She opposes equal marriage lesbian Americans unfit for military service, rights for gay couples and, as mayor, expressed supports policies that would allow faith-based FREE TEST interest in banning certain books from the organizations to deny us jobs and services us- public library. While her speech was clearly ing federal dollars, and attacks judges who 20% DISCOUNT well-received by the convention audience, it acknowledge our equality under the law,” said on premium hearing aids with this ad was stridently derisive of her Democratic oppo- HRC. Expires 10/15/08 nents. She mocked Obama’s work as a “commu- Sammon acknowledged that the GOP plat- nity organizer,” his convention speech in front form is “awful” but he said it’s also irrelevant. of “Styrofoam Greek columns” and his “devoted “The day after it passes, they put it in a followers.” drawer,” said Sammon. “People vote for the “What does he actually seek to accomplish, candidate, not the platform. I’d rather have a after he’s done turning back the waters and candidate who votes against the Federal Mar- healing the planet?” asked Palin. “The answer riage Amendment [as McCain did, twice] than a is to make government bigger, take more of platform that’s for it.” your money, give you more orders from Wash- ©2008 Keen News Service ington and to reduce the strength of America in a dangerous world.” Sept. 10, 2008 5 Avenue, and I know that change has always Bailiwick been an important part of the company’s long BEHIV’s benefit Ladies on term health,” he wrote. raises $2,000 the Lake leaving space In an interview, Zak told Windy City Times HIV/AIDS agency Better Existence with HIV Sept. 13 that for a small theater company, 15 years was (BEHIV) hosted a number of events in the after- Lambda Legal Lovely Ladies on the Lake will at year’s end a healthy run in such a large space, and is ex- noon on Sunday, Sept. 7, benefiting its massage- hold their “One ‘L’ of a Party” Saturday, Sept. 13. By AMY WOOTEN cited about the next step. He enouraged the therapy program. The event, the 2nd Annual Bar Boarding begins at 11:30 a.m. at Navy Pier, and LGBT community to check out Bailiwick’s Pride Day in Andersonville and Edgewater, raised over 150 women are expected to attend. Callling it “the end of an era,” Bailiwick Reper- Series during September and October, and help $2,000 to support BEHIV’s important massage- The Mystic Blue Cruise will sail 12-2 p.m. tory founder and artistic director David Zak noti- Bailiwick celebrate its final days in its current therapy program. Admission is $50-$100. See www.lambdalegal. fied patrons in a letter that the company will be location. Participating bars included @mosphere, Big org/events or call Jeff Souva at 312-663-4413. leaving its space at 1229 W. Belmont at the end Chicks, Glenwood, Jackhammer, Ravenswood of this year. Pub, SoFo, Star Gaze, T’s and Touché. Addition- Jeremy Wechsler and Theatre Wit will take over ally, La cocina de Frida donated 10 percent of its the space in 2009. Bailiwick’s remaining produc- brunch sales from the day to BEHIV. tions and events for the current year—including the Oct. 12 Trailblazer Awards—will still go on as planned. There will also be a prop sale Oct. Obama delegate; I thought she was unbeliev- across the nation. The platform also went after 17-18. TALE from cover able. I think she’s committed 150 percent to activist judges who rule in favor of advancing Zak mentioned always having “great memo- Windy City Times that the DNC showed “how electing Barack in November.” LGBT rights. ries” from productions such as Jerry Springer— truly vast and diverse our country and our party Jackie Kaplan, a lesbian delegate, attended However, Steve Schmidt, senior campaign The Opera, but also acknowledged that the space are.” the DNC back in 2000, as well. “The experience strategist for the McCain campaign, stopped by has “been a great financial burden, and this be- Demich spoke of the emotions felt by many then was very exciting, but the energy level a Log Cabin Republican (LCR) luncheon Sept. ing an old building was and is in constant need during the convention, in particular, during was nothing compared to what it felt like to be 4, calling the group “an important one in the of repair.” He added that he is looking forward Sen. Barack Obama’s speech. in Denver last week,” Kaplan said. “It truly felt fabric of our party,” and speaking about his les- to moving into another venue and that the com- “I left with a sense of pride in my country, like we were standing on the edge of history.” bian sister. The organization has endorsed Sen. pany is “planning for Pride 2009 for summer.” pride in my party and a renewed passion to Kaplan also told Windy City Times that she John McCain. Zak told Windy City Times that the cost of keep our country from being run, yet again, by felt so much has changed for the LGBT commu- One of the most talked-about news coming keeping the building open added unnecessary the wackos on the Republican ticket,” he said. nity since 2000, and even in 2004, when same- out of the RNC was the announcement of Alaska pressure to juggle many shows at once, “even Lesbian delegate Vernita Gray attended with sex marriage was used as a wedge issue. Gov. Sarah Palin as McCain’s running mate. Palin if we weren’t exactly ready for them.” He hopes her mother. She was very moved by what she “This year, while our community was not a supported a 1998 Alaska constitutional amend- that his crew can get a little breathing room and saw at the convention, as well. focal point, and while no one stood up and ment banning same-sex marriage. Ironically, focus on putting on strong performances in their “The diversity that I saw every day in Den- waived a rainbow flag in solidarity, at least one of the first things she did when elected to next space. “We definitely don’t want to rush ver was what brought tears to my eyes,” Gray most of the prime time speakers mentioned office was veto a bill that would have banned this,” he added. said. “I love to smile and say that I do not gays and lesbians in their speeches,” Kaplan same-sex partners of state employees from ob- He told Windy City Times that the board is have to wait for the last Sunday in June to have added. taining domestic partner benefits. (However, looking at a number of possible new locations, Pride. My pride is every day, and so it was at the Lesbian delegate Debra Shore responded to the bill she vetoed in 2006 was a response to a including the Center on Halsted, as well as other DNC.” what she saw as “stark” differences between state supreme court decision from the previous spaces in the neighborhood. The presence of over 300 LGBT delegates the two parties following both conventions. year stating that the state’s policy of denying “Our neighborhood is no longer the gay haven wasn’t the only reason Gray felt proud, she “The Democratic convention in Denver included those benefits violated the Alaska Constitu- it used to be,” Zak told Windy City Times. The said. She also felt pride because of the pres- more open LGBT people than ever before and tion.) The nation’s largest gay-rights organiza- gay community has moved slightly since Baili- ence of powerful women such as Hillary Rod- the platform is progressive and inclusive. The tion, Human Rights Campaign, announced its wick first moved into the neighborhood 15 years ham Clinton, and because Obama became the sea of faces at the convention looked diverse disappointment in McCain’s pick, and called ago, and he would like to move closer to where first African-American man to accept a major and was diverse, like America! Palin’s stance on equality “frightening.” the audience lives, he said. party nomination. “But the Republican Party will continue to Palin is also a strong supporter of pro-life, “It’s sad, but we feel we petty much did every- “Black, white, Asian, Hispanic, gay, lesbian, try to win by pushing an agenda that demeans even in cases of rape. thing we could do in this space,” Zak added. transgender, old and young had come to hear women, derides LGBT people, dismisses the Following Palin’s RNC speech, Gray told He said that he does not want to rush acquir- the senator from Illinois,” Gray said. “The concerns of working people, and degrades the Windy City Times that her comments “had a lot ing a new space (although, ideally, they will stands were filled to capacity.” environment. of snap and [were] nasty,” but had “very little have one at the start of the New Year), and many Tom Tunney, alderman of Chicago’s 44th During the RNC convention in St. Paul, Minn., substance.” local theaters have offered for Bailiwick to use Ward, spoke with Windy City Times at Invesco delegates passed the party platform, which Kaplan called Palin “ill-equipped” because of their space for both large and small shoes during Field before Sen. Obama spoke. Talking about contained a few references to LGBT people. her “extremist views on issues from evolution any sort of transitional period. speeches that took place earlier in the week, The platform mentioned “the incompatibility to abstinence-only education.” Zak insisted in his letter, and reiterated to he said, “I thought Michelle [Obama] was great of homosexuality with military service,” which Debra Shore said, “The selection of Sarah Pa- Windy City Times in a follow-up interview, that and I thought [the speech of Ted] Kennedy was means the party continues to support the mili- lin as candidate for vice president was hastily the company is not folding: “ [W] e are not clos- poignant. The enthusiasm was certainly evident tary policy “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.” made, a real gamble for the ticket and a telling ing or shutting down. After all, we have after all on [Aug. 25]; Michelle was so articulate and The platform also mentioned the party’s con- window into John McCain’s method of making made changes in venue in the past, from Jane so personable. [Sen.] Hillary [Clinton’s] speech tinued support of a Federal Marriage Amend- decisions.” Addams Hull House down the street to Belmont was probably the highlight for me—and I’m an ment, which would ban same-sex marriage

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There is something special about Summer in Saugatuck, MI that makes it one of the most popular destinations for GLBT tourist, something diffi cult to defi ne but easy to recognize. Best of all, it’s everywhere you look. It’s in the diverse and plentiful shops, restaurants & accommodations. It’s in the arts and the people. It’s in the world-renowned beaches. It’s in the Dunes Resort. 6 Sept. 10, 2008 MULLIGAN from cover on issues, so they support you even more, and have more determination that you win. So, I challenger and another strong LGBT ally, Au- think that happened. I think there are a lot of rora Austriaco. Mulligan spoke with Windy City people who came to my campaign because of Times about the importance of moderate Re- issues I didn’t realize in the beginning were publicans, the Republican National Convention here, but turned out to be. Here she was, say- and much more. ing that she’d be surprised if gay people lived Windy City Times: How did you first get in our community. Well, I had a woman on my involved in politics? What prompted you to campaign for a while. All of a sudden, when get involved, and what keeps you going? we were doing a recount the first time around, Rosemary Mulligan: Originally, I worked for I made some sort of statement. I think I was a law firm in Glenview before I ran for office. asked to speak at a group that is no longer When I was there, I became involved in the there—it was probably the predecessor to Illinois Federation of Business and Professional Equality Illinois—a power gay group. Pullen Women (BPW/IL), which is like a large women’s made some comment about why I was speak- group. It’s not that large, but more moderate ing there. We were in the car, and this woman than NOW (National Organization for Women). said, “I knew I liked you, but now I like you It’s made up of bipartisan people. At the time even more. I just want you to know my daugh- went on, when I was there, I was the state leg- ter is a lesbian.” I was really surprised that islation chair for a couple of years and then a she said it was one of the reasons she really platform representative. I did some work with liked me. She had never said that before, and them. I did a lot of work on women’s issues, we had been working together for the last six and lobbied and organized. Well, then the or seven months. … She’s been a really good gal who was the president of NOW in the Park friend and someone I have gone to. She’s one Ridge/Des Plaines area called a state office, of the people I use as a sounding board. I can looking for someone to speak at a pro-choice get even more perspective than I get from ask- rally. When she called, it turned out she lived a ing just the gay community. She’s done a lot of block over from where I lived, so I went over to work. She’s worked with GLSEN [Gay, Lesbian the rally—it was around October of ’89—and and Straight Education Network] and other although I had been working on the issues for places, so she gives me additional ideas all the years, I was stunned to find out that the park time. was crammed with anti-choice people. The po- WCT: How seriously are you taking the lice had kind of expected it, but I don’t know November election? You have a Democratic if I had. So, after the rally, some of my friends challenger [in Austriaco]. What do you think from BPW who had come to the rally, and some you bring to the table that your opponent of the other people who had come said that I doesn’t, and what would your defeat mean should run against Penny Pullen, who was then for the issues you care about and your dis- the state legislator. trict? Aurora’s LGBT reception WCT: What impact do you believe you re- RM: I’m taking it very seriously. First of all, Aurora Austriaco—who is running against State Rep. Rosemary Mullligan for the 65th District placing Pullen in the Illinois House had on she’s raising a lot of money. At one point, she not just reproductive rights, but other is- seat—held an LGBT reception Sept. 6 at the John Hancock Center, 875 N. Michigan. The night was raising more than I had, which made me sues important to our readers, like lesbian very nervous. But, she’s just one more Demo- was capped off with Chicago’s dramatic Saturday night fireworks display. Austriaco is second and gay issues, as well as HIV/AIDS fund- crat in Illinois. You may not be happy with the from the right in the top picture, and in the middle in the image directly above. Photos courtesy ing? Republicans nationally, but I think you would of Ray Koenig RM: I think it was really important. When I be even less happy with the Democrats in Illi- ran in ’90, first of all, a lot of people didn’t nois, considering they have total party control, think you could beat incumbent leadership and they’ve totally decimated the state. within your own party, but then never said I’m an independent person, and I’ve done a that I couldn’t. [Laughs] We won, but then lost lot of things for my district and in the General in the recount, and it got a lot of publicity. Assembly, I represent a voice I think you need Then, in 1992, it was supposedly the Year of in the opposite party. I’m also one of the top the Woman. A lot of new people came into the budget people in the General Assembly. I’ve General Assembly because it was a redistrict- helped with dollars and funding on everything ing year. … I think it was time for a change, from AIDS to nursing homes and drugs—differ- CLICK TO WIN and people were stunned that I would beat her. ent things that are important to people, and Just email your name, zip code In 1990, the issues really started coming up. I have a very good grasp of that. I think I and answer to this question: When I first ran, it was a lot of issues—she represent people fairly, and I think I’ve done a wasn’t good on education and other issues— good job all these years. “What’s your favorite but choice was the one that was highlighted. I’m not quite sure where [Austriaco’s] com- But a little while into it, gay rights came up. ing from, except she would like to be elected, It turned out she was really a very homopho- and Madigan would like a simple majority. … I Lily Tomlin moment?” bic legislator. So, those issues came up, and of don’t think she’ll be an independent person— course, over the next two or three years, a lot whereas, I was elected challenging my own of people, and she said that gay and lesbian leadership. She’s going to try to get elected to [email protected] people don’t impact our community and don’t with the leaders backing here, which means for your chance to win live here. That isn’t true. There are a lot of gay she’s beholden to them, where I’m pretty much people who live in the suburbs, and there are a my own person. And I’m a floor leader, and Two front row seats to see lot of parents that live here. I’m accepted in my own party as someone who I had some supporters that I had not real- thinks out of the box and who helps other ized were supporting me, not just on choice, people on my side of the aisle think that way, LILY TOMLIN but because they had gay children. I think, in too. Nov 1 show at the Rosemont the beginning, people supported me because I Read the entire interview with Theatre was against her. [Laughs] Then people get to State Rep. Rosemary Mulligan at www. know you and are comfortable where you stand WindyCityMediaGroup.com. —Meet and Greet with Lily —Sofitel Chicago O’Hare hotel room (deluxe room) for the night of the show Sept. 10, 2008 7 murder, and its impact on Chicago. on the heels of news that he is engaged to a —Oct. 12, 2008: A special far west suburban woman and that he’s behind a state ban on booksigning in St. Charles 2-4 p.m., at the Town- NATIONAL same-sex marriage, Advocate.com reported. A House Books & Cafe, 105 North 2nd Avenue, St. new Quinnipiac Univeristy poll has shown that Charles, Ill., 630-584-8600. ROUNDUP Crist now has a 61 percent approval rate. BY AMY WOOTEN Out & Proud in Chicago begins the work of In Iowa, a gay man named Daniel Carver, capturing a history that often has been hidden, 46, said that he was fired from a McDonald’s or at least elusive. As editor Tracy Baim writes A Boston municipal court judge has banned a homophobe from the city’s gay South End restaurant after it was discovered that he is in her introduction, “A few brave people did try , 365Gay.com reported. Carver, neighborhood. Fabio Brandao, accused of gay HIV-positive to document our community, either as major 46, has filed a complaint with the state’s civil- events were happening or through groundbreak- bashing four people in South End, has been barred from the neighborhood and given a 10 rights commission. ing historical research. These writers, journal- A New York Supreme Court judge upheld ists, photographers, filmmakers, academics and p.m. curfew until his Oct. 10 pretrial confer- ence. Police said Brandao, 28, attacked three Gov. David Paterson’s order that all state historians have tried to find many needles in the agencies must recognize same-sex marriage haystack, through interviews with pioneers, dig- men and one woman in the heart of Boston’s gay neighborhood last month. Other men al- performed elsewhere (such as Canada and ging into old university and museum archives, legedly participated in the beating alongside California), even though gay marriage is illegal Signings set for and reading the often-biased coverage of the Brandao while using homophobic slurs. in New York. The judge dismissed a lawsuit, mainstream media. In some cases, finding out if brought by the anti-gay and conservative Alli- A homeless man recently killed a 19-year- ‘Out and Proud’ there was a ‘there’ there meant reading between ance Defense Fund, that Paterson violated the old gay student in New York City. According to the lines and piecing together what it was to be police, Jeromie Cancel, 22, used a pillowcase state constitution’s separation of powers. in Chicago ‘gay’ 100 years ago.” to suffocate out college student Kevin Pra- The gay-rights organization Equality Forum See www.ChicagoGayHistory.org or e-mail Historians Jonathan Ned Katz via, who he had just met. Police say the man recently reported that over 94 percent of the [email protected]. and John D’Emilio to make rare admitted to killing Pravia and stealing some 2008 Fortune 500 companies voluntarily joint Chicago appearance electronics. He also told police he hung around provide sexual orientation nondiscrimina- tion employment policies. Lavishly illustrated with almost 400 histori- Pravia’s Manhattan apartment to watch the Read about the latest in world news at cal color and black-and-white photographs, and horror movie Saw after he killed him. www.WindyCityMediaGroup.com. drawing on the scholarly, historical, and jour- The approval ratings for Florida Gov. Charlie nalistic contributions of a breadth of authorities Crist, long rumored to be gay, have increased on Chicago’s LGBT culture and scene, Out and Proud in Chicago: An Overview of the City’s Gay Community (Surrey Books, 224 pages, $30) is the first overview of Chicago’s LGBT community and its history. Published as a companion to the WTTW public television documentary of the same name, and to the Web site www.ChicagoGayHis- tory.org, the book is organized into a few main chronological sections, from Prairie Settlement to the 2000s. Windy City Times Publisher Tracy There’s Power Baim edited and co-wrote the book, and was joined by more than two dozen other writers. Several booksignings have been scheduled for the Chicago area in September and October, to promote both the book and the launch of the Chicago Gay History Project Web site (www.chi- in Our Pride. cagogayhistory.org). There will be co-authors at each of these events, depending on their sched- Participate in the largest LGBT Community ules. All events are free except for the Sept. 26 Survey in history, and help demonstrate the fundraiser. —Sept. 18: Book launch at 7 p.m. at Women growing Power in Our Pride. & Children First Books, 5233 N. Clark Street, Chicago, 773-769-6729. Come meet many of the Everyone who completes the survey by Sept 14, 2008 will writers and photographers featured in this new book. be entered into a drawing to win one of FIVE iPod Shuffles —Sept. 26, 2008: History Project fundraiser or the Grand Prize of TWO free airline tickets from/to any of featuring a rare Chicago appearance by national gay historian Jonathan Ned Katz and Chicago- the participating airline’s destinations in the 48 continental based historian John D’Emilio. Hosted by Mi- U.S. States, plus Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean. chael Leppen at the Sears Tower Metropolitan Restrictions apply. Club, 5:30-7:30 p.m., $500 donation. Call 773- 387-2394 for details tickets. Sign language in- terpreter. Please take the survey today, and tell your friends! —Sept. 27, 2008: History Project and Commu- nity Book Launch, featuring more than a dozen of the writers from Out and Proud, plus Jona- than Ned Katz and John D’Emilio. Hear about www.WindyCityMediaGroup.comwww.LGBTSurvey.com the Web site’s future and get copies of your book signed. Saturday, Sept. 27, noon-2 p.m., Center on Halsted, 3656 N. Halsted. Sign language in- Tremendous strides toward full equality have been achieved by our communities over the past decade. There’s terpreter. Power in Our Pride. Power to make a difference: —Oct. 1, 2008: The Chicago Public Library, • Gay and lesbian survey studies have opened doors (and minds) in leading corporations and organizations, which in turn have Harold Washington Branch downtown, is hosting recognized the value of their LGBT employees through the establishment of equal hiring policies and domestic partner a panel discussion of the Web site and book, 6 benefits. This has been a catalyst, leading to sweeping changes in political and social inclusivity. p.m., Wed., Oct. 1, 6 p.m., 400 S. State Street, • Demographic reports also influence marketing investment. Virtually absent until recently, we now see a growing variety of Chicago. This free event features panelists Tracy products and services represented in gay media, celebrating our diversity. Ads keep LGBT publications and websites Baim, Marie J. Kuda, Jorjet Harper, William B. in business, serving their communities with independent news and information. Kelley, Pat McCombs and Chuck Renslow, fol- • Beyond simply advertising, though, these companies support us in many ways, including sponsoring community events lowed by Q&A and booksigning. and funding community-based charities in order to earn our loyalty. —Oct. 5, 2008: Centuries and Sleuths Book- • Taking an annual pulse on market trends through surveys helps demonstrate the LGBT community’s growing power, and influences positive change. store hosts our first suburban Out and Proud booksigning, featuring writer Marie J. Kuda and Tracy Baim, Sunday, Oct. 5, 2-4 p.m., 7419 W. We respect your privacy. All personal survey data is held confidentially by Community Marketing, Inc., an independent market Madison Street, Forest Park, Ill., 708-771-7243. research and communications firm based in San Francisco (founded 1992, and proudly 100% gay-owned and -operated) and will not —Oct. 11, 2008: National Coming Out Day is be sold to third parties or used for marketing purposes. Thank you! the occasion for this signing in Oak Park 2-4 p.m. at Borders, 1144 Lake Street, 708-386- 6927. Hear from Oak Parker Marie J. Kuda, Tracy Baim and other writers about Coming Out Day, ® 2008 Community Marketing, Inc., 584 Castro St. #834, San Francisco CA 94114 USA www.CommunityMarketingInc.com the 10th anniversary of the Matthew Shepard 8 Sept. 10, 2008 University of Chicago when she decided to do that they lived “outside the law ... in continuous her dissertation on a gay topic. Mother Camp, interaction with the local police.” Police harass- Hill means a Lott CHICAGO the book she produced a generation ago, was ment often meant long arrest records. based on field work in Chicago and Kansas City Fragments of evidence about James Clay high- to Critical GAY HISTORY in 1965 and 1966. light just how vulnerable street fairies were. A BY JOHN D’EMILIO “Drag,” Newton wrote then, “symbolizes gay- twenty-four year old African American who lived Encounters ness.” She described drag as “an open declara- on the West Side, Clay already had 12 arrests by By YASMIN NAIR tion, even celebration, of homosexuality.” Those 1970. Charges included impersonating the op- who cross-dressed, she argued, were effectively posite sex, solicitation to commit prostitution, HIV/AIDS agency Test Positive Action Net- saying “I’m gay, I don’t care who knows it; the battery, resisting arrest, aggravated assault and work (TPAN) will celebrate its 21st anniver- straight world be damned.” attempted murder. A hardened criminal, right? sary Saturday, Sept. 13, at its “Aware Affair: When Newton made her observations, drag was Wrong! All of these are charges that easily stem Superheroes” gala at the MCA Loft, 1747 W. a big part of gay bar life in Chicago. In 1966, from the efforts of a transperson of color to Hubbard. Among the 21 “superheroes” being Risky business seven gay nightspots had full-time drag shows, make a living on the streets. Clay likely made the honored to help mark the organizations’ 21st employing roughly thirty performers. At a time mistake of soliciting plainclothesmen; he likely anniversary is Columbia College Chicago. Spe- when much of Chicago life was racially segre- tried to escape, which translates into resisting In 1963, as a high-school sophomore, I saw my cifically, the institution is being recognized gated and Martin Luther King, Jr. was planning arrest. And, to make sure of a conviction, po- first Broadway play. Afterwards, strolling through for its AIDS-focused theme during the initial massive protests, many of these performers were lice officers could define physical resistance to Manhattan’s theater district with my friends, I year of the Critical Encounters (CE) learning African Americans. Drag shows packed in patrons them as aggravated assault or attempted mur- also saw my first homosexuals: three young men, initiative. on weekends; 200 or more might press into the der, which then got plea-bargained down. Clay’s thin as toothpicks; with long teased hair; their One of the individuals who played a key role space. Some bars with drag shows were located twelve arrests resulted in three convictions be- fingers fluttering; mascara, rouge and powder on in developing the CE initiative and the theme near each other, and the crowds moved back and tween 1965 and 1969. One of his arresting of- their faces. I couldn’t take my eyes off them. is Lott Hill, who, along with English professor forth during an evening in order to catch all the ficers was James Finnelly. Their appearance thrilled and terrified me. Ames Hawkins, designed and coordinated the shows. The experience helped create a sense of In the wee hours of the morning, the day be- In the 1960s, before rainbow flags and equal related public talks and events. Hill has just community. fore Thanksgiving 1970, Finnelly and his partner, signs on SUV bumpers, gay and lesbian visibility been named director of the Center for Teach- Most of the time drag shows were pure fun. Thomas Bolling, spotted Clay, who was wearing came primarily through gender bending. Occa- ing Excellence, and he was a member of the Performers did hilarious impersonations of women’s clothing, flagging motorists. They gave sionally, queerness might attach to an individual task force that got CE off the ground. older showbiz figures like Mae West or Sophie pursuit and chased Clay into a building. Clay in the public eye. Bayard Rustin’s arrest on sex Initial interest in CE began, according to Tucker. They bantered with the audience, us- managed to shake them off and escape. In an charges was widely publicized. Allen Ginsberg’s ing the people in front of them as material for unmarked car, the two officers kept cruising the Hill, when TPAN partnered with one of the sexually explicit poetry provoked outrage. Mar- their jokes. But sometimes a political message neighborhood near Madison and Francisco. They regular classes held on campus, Ad Agency, lene Dietrich and Greta Garbo played roles that surfaced. Newton described impersonators who found Clay, who had changed into men’s clothes, taught by Larry Minski in the Marketing and suggested lesbianism but that’s because they referred to the fact that Illinois, alone among and tried to arrest him. Clay got free again, but Communications Department. Part of Co- wore men’s clothes. Lesbian moviegoers might the fifty states, had repealed its sodomy law. this time Finnelly and Bolling fired eight shots lumbia’s mission statement, is to “educate hope that, maybe, they were lesbians in real life. One spoke to the audience about the Mattachine into his back. students who will go on to shape public per- I’ll never know whether the young men I saw Society. “If you think we’re not gonna march,” The Sun-Times and the Defender carried stories ception and who will author the culture of that day in 1963 were gay. But crossing gender he said, “you’re out of your mind.” This was be- about Clay’s killing, and both papers wrote in their times.” To that end, the class students boundaries – especially through dress and hair fore Stonewall. ways that suggested doubt about police verac- and TPAN worked to create the “Power of style – was so closely tied to homosexuality that Gender crossing in these bars was confined to ity. But no witnesses came forward. The recently One” campaign. But even after the class was it didn’t matter. I saw them and I knew: they the stage. At night’s end, the performer removed formed Chicago Gay Alliance called for an FBI over, TPAN found that students had become were what I felt I was. I came back to Times jewelry, make up, and gowns, and returned to investigation into the slaying, arguing that engaged participants in the drive to spread Square many times, hoping to find someone else male clothing. Among bar patrons, any gender Clay’s civil rights had been violated. But the FBI AIDS awareness: “While learning to function who was queer. Eventually, I did. Those street crossing was risky business. It was against the refused. CGA wrote that “street transvestites are in their professional lives, they were also fairies, as they were widely termed in those law, and police were eager for arrests. Bar man- the most up front part of our community ... Cops learning about HIV/AIDS and becoming peer days, helped me discover gay life. agers kept customers in line. use transvestites to take out their hatred for educators,” said Hill. My experience was not unique. Recalling her But outside was another matter. There, New- those of us they can’t reach so easily ... James days in New York in the 1950s, Joan Nestle, a See www.tpan.com for more about the ton reported, young gender crossers made the Clay was a Gay martyr.” Clay’s killing helped pro- founder of the Lesbian Herstory Archives, has gala. streets the site of their performance. Like the voke the formation in 1971 of the Transvestites written that butch-femme couples “made les- Read the entire article at www. street fairies I saw in Times Square, they pre- Legal Committee, which may have been the first bians culturally visible.” She describes these WindyCityMediaGroup.com. sented themselves for anyone to see. They were transgender political group in Chicago. couples, who “often provoked rage” when they most visible in those neighborhoods with a rep- Postscript: Thirty-five years after the killing appeared on the streets, as models of courage. utation as gay; in fact, their presence helped of James Clay, Amnesty International released a Histories of lesbian life in San Francisco, De- mark a neighborhood as queer. They could also report, Stonewalled, that looked at police prac- troit, and Buffalo all make the same point. be found in areas that attracted johns looking tices in Chicago. “Transgender people of color,” We don’t have a book-length account of les- for prostitutes. it concluded, “are especially at risk of police bian life in Chicago in the decades before Stone- Lott Life for a street fairy was difficult and dan- abuse.” Much has changed since 1970. And wall. But we are blessed with a richly detailed Hill. gerous. To challenge gender boundaries openly much hasn’t. study of the culture of drag performance and made it hard to get a job. Many had to support Copyright 2008 John D’Emilio street fairy life. Esther Newton, who is one of themselves through prostitution. Add this to the great figures in contemporary queer studies, their violation of the laws against cross-dress- was a graduate student in anthropology at the ing, and one could say, as Esther Newton did,

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Chip Jones 2-375x4-5 Ad.indd 1 3/27/2008 1:19:55 PM Sept. 10, 2008 9 Mary Jane Beech is survived by her sister, Sarah (Gaylon) Peyton; her sons, Robert David (Anne) Beech and Richard Alan (Sue) Beech; her nieces, Sandy Mullins and Ana Nesbitt; her neph- Carl ews, Mike Peyton and Matt Newton Morales; her QUOTELINES Frazier. former husband, Robert (Jean Margret) Beech; BY REX WOCKNER and her grandchildren, James, Abigail, Caroline, Conrad, and Rachael. She was predeceased by an infant sister, Joanne Higdon, and by her sister, Q Martha Newton. “Barack Obama will close the book on lent some bravery to people who are not in An open house in celebration of Mary Jane the old politics of race and gender and group (the public eye).” — Out singer Janis Ian to Celebration of Beech’s life was held Saturday, Aug. 16, at the against groups, and straight against gay.” — Time magazine, Aug. 7. Frazier’s life Oak Park Conservatory, 615 Garfield. In lieu of U.S. Sen. Edward Kennedy, D-Mass., speaking to flowers, memorial donations to the anti-poverty the Democratic National Convention, Aug. 25. “Here is the hard truth—if you are Sept. 27 organization Heifer International (www.heifer. looking for a life partner the numbers There will be a celebration of the life of Carl org) or a charity of the donor’s choice are ap- “Manhunt’s annual income from mem- are not in your favor. If you take the total Frazier Saturday, Sept. 27, at St. James Presby- preciated. berships alone is roughly the same as number of gay men in your city, subtract the terian, 6554 N. Rockwell, at 7 p.m. the total amount of individual contributions to number you are not sexually compatible with, Frazier 41, was found shot to death in Denver, PASSAGES this country’s two biggest gay political groups, minus the ones who have deal-breaking habits, Colo., in July. He moved there less than a year the Human Rights Campaign and NGLTF. (For- minus the guys who you have nothing in com- ago from Chicago. Details point to a robbery and Douglas Willis mer NGLTF Executive Director Matt) Foreman mon with, minus the pathological closet cases murder. Douglas T. Willis—a complicated, garrulous says, ‘If we could leverage their membership who play straight while playing around online, While living in Chicago, Frazier helped co- individualist with a passion for foreign travel— for activism, there’s no limit to what we could minus the ones who just plain annoy you— found an HIV/AIDS support group, PozForceChi- died in his sleep Aug. 13. The long-term AIDS do.’” — Journalist and author Michael Joseph the universe of potential mates is remarkably cago. survivor (22 years) was 44. Gross writing in Out magazine, September is- limited. This harsh reality is true for gay men A memorial was held in his hometown of Pe- Ever the world traveler, Willis would start sue. in large cities and especially for rural gay men kin, Ill., last month. making plans for the next country he wanted to who can’t find a hunk in Podunk.” — Syndi- tour. (He’d written a list of 40 more countries he “When we started cruising online, cated columnist Wayne Besen, Aug. 12. wanted to see; unfortunately, he never got to neither I nor any of visit either San Francisco or New York City.) my friends would have Key West, Fla., was a sanctuary for him. But, dreamed we’d post naked Mary Jane after watching AIDS decimate too many friends/ pictures of ourselves for She wanted Beech. acquaintances in that gay mecca, Willis returned strangers to see. Now al- me to give her GLAAD photo to Chicago. His quality of life improved; for a most all of us have done it. period of time, he even served as manager of When we crossed that line all this money the New Town Alano Club, an organization that most of us felt we were so she could helps with alcohol addiction. violating ourselves. But it do some Willis was a voracious reader who entered the got us laid. We took more spell on PASSAGES nursing program at a local community college. pictures—better ones— However, recurring health crises kept him from because the hotter our my vagina. Mary Jane Beech continuing with his formal education. Many of pictures, the more we got —Margaret Cho Mary Jane Beech, an anthropologist, sociolo- his AIDS drugs had debilitating side effects, and laid. When we questioned gist and women’s studies expert, died Aug. 6 at- his compromised immune system targeted him our choices, we reminded tended to by her sister, Sarah, and the staff of for a host of other medical conditions. ourselves, ‘We’re gay, this is our culture, Man- Rainbow Hospice. She was 68. Although he had gotten to the point where, hunt is the 21st-century gay bar, and you can’t “Some time ago, I was walking down Born Aug. 24, 1940, in Ames, Iowa, to Alice each day, he described his pain level as “excru- stop progress.’ Besides, every fuck, we rational- the street, and this fortune teller grabbed Mae (Cole) Higdon and R. Archie Higdon, Mary ciating” and “surreal”—Willis’ soul wasn’t ready ized, was another chance to find a boyfriend. me and dragged me back to her shop, very pan- Jane Beech traveled frequently during her ear- to die: there were too many experiences he had Yet the more we did this, the fainter grew the icked. She said: ‘I have to tell you something. ly years, accompanying her father to different yet to enjoy. And enjoy he did! Five days before hope of finding something more meaningful Your vagina is haunted. You have to get rid of military postings. She was married from 1961 he died, Willis took himself to see Bette Midler’s than a hookup. As our hopes faded, we learned this demon, or you will never have a happy to 1981 to Robert Paul Beech, and had two show at the new “Venue” entertainment center to see one another, and finally even ourselves, relationship; you will never have good sex; you children, Robert David Beech and Richard Alan at the Horseshoe Casino in Hammond, Ind. as things.” — Journalist and author Michael will never be happy.’ I was really freaked out. Beech. Willlis’ body was cremated, according to his Joseph Gross writing in Out magazine, Septem- She wanted me to give her all this money so Her doctoral work took place at Michigan wishes. A memorial service, “To Celebrate Doug- ber issue. she could do some spell on my vagina.” — State University and the American Institute for las,” will take place Saturday, Sept. 13, 2-4 p.m., Comedian Margaret Cho to the New York Post, Indian Studies in Calcutta, India. She received at the Zen Buddhist Center, 1710 W. Cornelia; “I think these last 10 years have seen Aug. 17. her Ph.D. from Michigan State in 1972 in sociol- 773-528-8685; zenbuddhisttemplechicago.org. just a huge shift in the psyche of this coun- ogy and anthropology. try as regards gay people. I think AIDS had a “I don’t think about being an icon Beech taught sociology, anthropology and lot to do with it. So many families who really really. The gay fans have always been very women’s studies at several local colleges, includ- believed they’d ‘never met one’ were suddenly loyal, they are a really great audience and have Doug ing George Williams College, College of DuPage, confronted with their sons becoming ill, and always been there for me.” — Singer Olivia Willis at Columbia College and Aurora University. friends of sons. I think that brought a lot of Newton-John to AfterElton.com, Aug. 13. the Taj Beech was a tireless advocate for women’s it into the open. Certainly groups like ACT UP Mahal. equality and was active in several organizations (and) Larry Kramer brought a lot of it into the in Oak Park, including the League of Women Vot- open. But I think there also has just been a ers, several book clubs at the Oak Park Public willingness on the parts of people like myself, Library and the Oak Park Area Lesbian and Gay people like Melissa Etheridge or Elton (John), —Assistance: Bill Kelley Association. to stand up and be counted that has hopefully

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Chicago Leadership Council 10 Sept. 10, 2008

VOL. 23, No. 52, Sept. 10, 2008 GUEST viewpoint The combined forces of Windy City Times, founded Sept. 1985, and Outlines newspaper, that they need to recover is a false economy and with the justice system. But however it comes, founded May 1987. one for which we all pay dearly. it is important that the resources are there to PUBLISHER & Executive EDITOR REP. Gone are the days when alcoholics and drug ad- take action. Tracy Baim GREG dicts skulked in the shadows because of societal The governor’s veto of half the state treatment condemnation and families hid their “shameful budget will make it impossible for thousands of Assistant Publisher Terri Klinsky HARRIS secret.” Today, it would be hard to find a fam- Illinoisans to get the help they need. For those MANAGING Editor Andrew Davis Business manager Cynthia Holmes ily who has not been touched by the addiction already in the midst of the struggle to free Director of New Media Jean Albright of a loved one, nor a community that has not themselves of their addiction, it puts their re- ART DIRECTOR Kirk Williamson suffered due to substance abuse. People realize covery at risk. I cannot help but recall the news account managerS: Amy Matheny, Suzanne that substance abuse is an illness and one that story about the plight of the mom in the halfway Kraus, Kirk Williamson, Terry Wiegel, Shawn Murray Blagojevich, do Promotions director Kathleen Ulm can be treated. house who was trying to get clean so she could NIGHTSPOTS MANAGING Editor Kirk Williamson right on substance- I know personally how difficult it is to get into get back to work and raise her children. As fund- SENIOR NEWS REPORTER Amy Wooten recovery, stay committed to a program and pre- ing disappears, so does her hope. National Sales Rivendell Media, 212-242-6863 vent relapse. I have struggled with this issue The issue of restoring the vetoed funds by leg- TheatER Editor Jonathan Abarbanel abuse cuts Cinema WRITER Richard Knight, Jr. myself through much of my adult life. Through islative action is now moot. The House voted to BOOKS WRITER Yasmin Nair Gov. Blagojevich recently undertook a splashy the grace of God; supportive family and friends; override the governor’s cuts and restore funding, SENIOR WRITERS Bob Roehr, Rex Wockner, Marie “rewrite to do-right” campaign to “improve” and the resources to seek and get the treatment but the Senate did not. However, the governor J. Kuda, David Byrne, Cathy Seabaugh, Tony legislation passed by the General Assembly. If he help I needed when I needed it, I am lucky has the power to move funds around within de- Peregrin ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT WRITERS rewrites anything, it should be his decimation enough to be a functioning, productive member partment budgets to the tune of 5 percent of the Mary Shen Barnidge, Jim Edminster, Steve Warren, of state funding for substance abuse treatment, of society. But it is still, and will always be, one total. The Human Services budget is around $5.8 Lawrence Ferber, Mel Ferrand, Tim Nasson, Scott and giving up $55 million in federal treatment day at a time. billion, so restoring the $55 million in substance Morgan, Catey Sullivan, Zachary Whittenburg, dollars. Of all the hundreds of souls I came across dur- abuse treatment cuts would mean a 0.95-percent J. S. Hall Columnists/Writers: Yvonne Zipter, Susie Day, Maybe the governor doesn’t think that treat- ing this time, not one of them wanted to be- shift, if my math is correct—plus a bonus $55 Jorjet Harper, Lee Lynch, Steve Starr, Joe Rice, ment and prevention have as big a voting bloc come an addict or an alcoholic. No one rolls out million in federal money to match. Dan Woog, Marie-Jo Proulx, Lisa Keen, Chris Crain, in Illinois as his other rewrites have. But he is of bed one morning and says to himself, “Today For a governor who fancies himself a great stu- Charlsie Dewey, Michael Knipp, Karen Dixon, Mark wrong—terribly wrong. Every family and com- is the day I’m going to become so dependent on dent of history, it is surprising to see him ignore Corece, Sabine Neidhardt PHOTOGRAPHERS Kat Fitzgerald, Mel Ferrand, munity in our state has an incredibly high stake drugs and alcohol that I will ruin my life and Ben Franklin’s dictum to avoid being “penny- Steve Becker, Steve Starr in providing high-quality substance abuse treat- the lives of those around me.” Whether it is due wise and pound-foolish.” Rather than spread the ARTISTS/CARTOONISTS Alison Bechdel, Mikeoart ment on demand. to genetic predisposition, peer pressure, societal pain of a difficult budget year across the state CIRCULATION Whether people become addicted to alcohol, influence or the desire to escape your reality ... budget, the governor purposefully targeted vul- Circulation director Jean Albright prescription drugs or illegal substances, all of us it happens. nerable Illinoisans for more pain and suffering. Distribution: Ashina, Allan, Crystal, Dan, Dan- iel, Jack, John, Sue and Victor pay the price. We pay as families are shattered, Another thing happens, too. We come to a mo- They will pay a steep price, and so will everyone careers are damaged, crime escalates, people are ment of clarity when we decide we just have to else. incarcerated at great cost to taxpayers, and lives get off of the merry-go-round and seek help. For So, come on, governor: Rewrite this cut and do are needlessly lost. Taking away this option that some it is a moment of God’s grace when that right for us all. substance abusers have to confront their addic- realization arrives, for others it is a confronta- State Rep. Greg Harris is the only openly gay tion, seek treatment and have all the resources tion with family or the boss, for others a brush member of the Illinois General Assembly.

Copyright 2008 Lambda Publications Inc./Windy City Media Group; All rights reserved. Reprint by permission only. Back issues available for $3 per issue (postage included). LETTERS Return postage must accompany all manuscripts, drawings, and photographs submitted if they are to be returned, and no responsibility may be assumed for unsolicited materials. Luther King, who was a Nobel Laureate, Baptist and empowering to see many high-level national All rights to letters, art and photographs sent to Windy Palin in comparison City Times will be treated as unconditionally assigned minister and African American civil-rights activ- Republican officials be so welcoming, accept- for publication purposes and as such, subject to editing Sarah Palin’s remarks during her speech at the ist. He is one of the most significant leaders in ing and seemingly apologetic for past wrongs. and comment. The opinions expressed by the columnists, U.S. history and in the modern history of non- cartoonists, letter writers, and commentators are their own Republican Convention oppressed the impor- It made us 150 LCR members, as well as two and do not necessarily reflect the position ofWindy City tance of community organizers who have worked violence. Dr. King started his work out of his dozen gay delegates who were able to attend Times. Publication of the name, photograph, or likeness of local congregation. a person or organization in articles or advertising in Windy against governments and systems that have for- the convention, feel that all our past work has City Times is not to be construed as any indication of the saken their call to advocate on a community She mocked my work as an HIV/AIDS organizer been “worth it.” sexual orientation of such person or organization. While and a soon-to-be candidate for ordained min- we encourage readers to support the advertisers who make level. As far back as I can remember, commu- I can attest that “Change” is not just a byword this newspaper possible, Windy City Times cannot accept nity organizers were the real movers and shakers istry with the United Church of Christ and the in a new Republican Party, as, from my perspec- responsibility for advertising claims. within America’s social issues when politicians American Baptist Churches. My work has always tive, never in history have so many straight Re- (773) 871-7610 FAX (773) 871-7609 refused to listen to the concerns of the people. been about justice for all of God’s people. publicans been so welcoming. Candidates McCain e-mail: [email protected]

It took ordinary folks organizing their communi- She mocked those who have contributed to and Palin had many chances to make non-inclu- www.WindyCityMediaGroup.com ties to demand action from government. Where the Obama campaign because we dare to dream sive statements in order to again try to bring in radio: WindyCityQueercast.com would America be without community organiz- that a leader can rise out of communities hit the far-right Republicans who Bush reached out ers? by poverty and not out of communities of privi- to in 2004—in effect, creating wedge issues as WINDY CITY MEDIA GROUP, lege. While I heard her attacking our lives work Without folks like Harriet Tubman, who orga- part of his message. However, not once were the 5315 N. Clark St. #192, Chicago, IL 60640 USA and our dreams, I did not hear her plan about (MAILING ADDRESS ONLY) nized one group at a time starting with her fam- words “sanctity of marriage” or any thing like it how the economy would be saved and how help ily to escape slavery. She eventually organized uttered by ... anyone. They understand that we Windy City Times Deadline every Wednesday. would on the way for folks who are losing their millions of slaves to freedom—freedom that care, we vote and we support America and the Nightspots Deadline every Wednesday. homes. While she was attacking our dream for a Identity (BLACKlines and En La Vida): Now eventually reached far into Canada. There were LGBT community through our political party. better America, I did not hear anything about a online only others like Jane Addams, who was an American I was honored to be asked to give the open- new kind of government coming from the Repub- Deadline The 10th of month prior. social worker, sociologist and reformer called OUT! Resource Guide ONLINE lican Party. All I heard was the same old business ing benediction for the LCR’s “big-tent” event. I “The mother of social work.” And Saul David Al- mentioned in my prayer the immortal words of www.WindyCityMediaGroup.com insky is generally considered the father of com- of Washington politics that have dominated for Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr., given at his famous munity organizing. A criminologist by training, nearly eight years. I think her speech shows how Washington Mall speech—now popularly titled, www.WindyCityMediaGroup.com Alinsky, in the 1930s, organized the Back of the out of touch she truly is. “I Have a Dream.” King said that “the arc of the www.WindyCityQueercast.com Yards neighborhood in Chicago (made famous moral universe is long but it bends toward jus- by Upton Sinclair’s The Jungle). He went on Sincerely, tice.” I mentioned that it does not bend on its to found the Industrial Areas Foundation while T.J. Williams own and needs human hands to help it bend. I organizing the Woodlawn neighborhood, which Chicago trained organizers and assisted in the founding went on to ask our creator’s assistance in reach- of community organizations around the country. Supporting the GOP ing up to grab that arc to bend it toward justice In Rules for Radicals (his final work, published and assist in our work. I can’t tell you how many one year before his death), he addressed the After attending the Republican National Conven- of our straight allies came up to me and asked 1960s generation of radicals, outlining his views tion in Minneapolis-St. Paul this past week, I am what they could do to help bend that arc. Windy City Times on organizing for mass power. A young Hillary increasingly optimistic that the hard work and I would encourage everyone, regardless of your is Chicago’s only Clinton was shaped because of his movement, efforts that the Log Cabin Repubicans (LCR) has political affiliation, to please ask your straight gay publication with writing her undergraduate thesis on his work invested in making the GOP more inclusive is friends, families and associates to help us bend and ideas. starting to pay off. Many delegates, politicians, that moral arc. And, above all, don’t lose faith in independent, outside Another community organizer—the Rev. Jesse politicos and general people who saw my “Equal- LCR’s efforts toward their noble cause of equality audit verification of Louis Jackson, Sr—who was a civil-rights and ity for All” button and Log Cabin Republican la- in the Land of Lincoln! circulation by the political activist in the United States who also pel pin stopped me to thank me for coming to became a candidate for the Democratic presiden- the convention. Still others said that they truly David J. Valkema nationally recognized tial nomination in 1984 and 1988. believe in what we are doing and would do all Chairman, Log Cabin Republicans-Illinois firm, Verified Audit And, last but certainly not least, Sarah Palin they could to back our efforts. It was so amazing Director, National Log Cabin Republicans Circulation. mocked the tireless efforts of the Rev. Martin Sept. 10, 2008 11 GOINGS-ON WINDY CITY TIMES’ ENTERTAINMENT SECTION

Sept. 10, 2008 11

Photo courtesy of Roy Heale ROME, IF YOU WANT TO Rome offers a lot of attractions for the LGBT traveler. See below. THEATER PROFILE SPORTS ‘Hero’ effect. Susan Sarandon. Net ‘n wild. page 14 page 17 page 22

Photo by Kirstie Shanley Photo by Ross Forman

TRAVEL In Rome, there are over 50 gay and gay-friend- ly bars, clubs, restaurants, cafes, shops, saunas and other businesses. And here is an online tip: There’s no place There is a map of Rome presented by gaydar. it, and it provides very comprehensive listings like Rome for all that is gay in this metropolis. You can by ROY HEALE also find the map at most gay establishments, including the appropriately named Coming Out Almost everyone knows the expression “Rome bar that is close to the Colosseum at 8 via S. wasn’t built in a day” and, wandering around Giovanni in Laterano. Once you have your map, this ancient city, you will soon realize that it you can plan a route to visit some of the popular will take several days just to visit a few of the nightspots, such as Gloss, Gorgeus, Hangar, Sky numerous historic sights and monuments. The Line, Sphinx and, of course, the popular disco Eternal City—as Rome is renowned—is per- Muccassassina—the number-one nightclub in haps the only urban center in the world where Rome. As with all European cities, the action you stroll along an ordinary street and turn the begins after midnight and the bars and clubs fill Trevi Fountain. Photo courtesy of Roy Heale corner, only to be confronted by something as to capacity very quickly on weekends. Romans majestic as the Roman Colosseum. Or perhaps are very friendly; wherever you go, you are sure you are taking a leisurely walk along a narrow for the festive village, and this year (from June and festivities. to receive a warm welcome and most of the lo- cobbled lane, and at the end of the street is a to September) the Parco del Ninfeo—a differ- As with so many major European cities, Rome cals speak English or are very adept at making piazza with the magnificent Trevi Fountain right ent venue than the Parco delle Cascate, which has several major parks to enjoy and the Parco themselves understood! before your very eyes. has hosted in previous years—has been home Gianicolense is one of the largest. It is located If it’s your first time in Italy, then you will But Rome has much more to offer than simply to an open-air community of shops, cafes, at the summit of one of the seven hills—la città probably soon discover the uniquely Italian phe- the well-known tourist attractions. bars, movies, performances, parties and more. dei sette colli—encapsulating Rome. Here, you nomenon of rooftop gardens. If you can take a Mussolini’s home and gardens are soon to be Nestled amongst the trees and shrubbery, the will not only find some of the most beautiful moment to divert your eyes from the visual feast open to the public for the first time since his village compound is a hub of activity after dark parkland and pathways, but also one of the most at street level and look to the skies, you will no- death and the Auditorium Parco Della Musica is a on Thursdays and Fridays and all day on Sat- spectacular views of the city. Strolling around tice that most buildings have rooftop gardens in modern-day amphitheatre dedicated to arts and urdays. One of this year’s special attractions is this large verdant acreage, you will come across varying shapes and sizes, complete with robust music—and is also the host of Rome’s gay and a fitness center that includes indoor cycling, the Fonte Acqua Paola; the Porta San Pancrazio; flora and fauna. It is an Italian expression of lesbian film festival every year. There is, in fact, reiki, volleyball and tango dancing. To appreci- the Garibaldi Monument and Piazza; the Faro al pride—and, of course, very gay—to outdo the The Other Rome—composed of lesser-known but ate the size and scope of this undertaking, it Giancolo clock tower; and even an unusual view neighbors with a spectacular city garden on high equally fascinating and historic sights to enjoy. should be noted that the estimated cost of Gay of the Vatican from this height that is spectacu- and to enjoy the views from a very inviting and For the past six years Rome has been renowned Village is $2.4 million. Sponsors have contrib- lar at night time. Not only are the sights memo- luscious patio in the sky. Because of the warm amongst Europe’s GLBT communities for its an- uted $300,000, and the rest is expected to be rable, but it is also a wonderful escape from the climate, these gardens proliferate each year— nual Gay Village, which is a popular element of made up by admission ticket sales and earnings extreme summer heat of the city. and some have grown to resemble full-fledged the Estata Romana—Roman Summer festival— from the village’s shops, restaurants and bars. Another respite from the city’s inevitable sum- city parks. If you’re lucky enough to meet a local and is now a tourist attraction. Although the The Parco del Ninfeo is in the relatively new EUR mer heat is a day trip to the less well-known and visit their rooftop paradise, you will under- influence of the pope reaches far beyond the Business District of Rome (located at Via delle Spiaggia Il Buco gay beach. From the heart of stand this obsession in the heart of the city. Vatican walls and Rome’s gay night life may not Tre Fontane and Via dell’Agricoltura) and is a the city it is about a one-hour journey on public Gay accommodations in Rome are not abun- be as robust as other similarly sized European little difficult to find, but after searching for the transit, and makes a fun picnic day away from dant, but there are several reasonably priced gay capitals, the Gay Village is a phenomenon. You location the gay rewards are gratifying. Almost the historic ruins. It is also a chance to catch bed-and-breakfasts. The Gay Open Bed & Break- might even see the advertising billboards for the every gay and lesbian Roman visits the village some eye-candy as the local gays and lesbians fast is centrally located at Piazza Vittorio, and Gay Village at major airports throughout Europe, regularly throughout the summer, and tourists enjoy their piece of paradise on the Tyrrhenian attesting to its widespread recognition. Turn to page 18 make the trek from all over Europe to experience Sea. There is a stretch of nude beach that is Since 2002 a city park has been the venue the sense of community and enjoy the parties mostly populated by the gay community. 12 Sept. 10, 2008 Gogarty (who, with Huffman, created West Loop Dancin’ Feats hotspot Lumen) adds texture to the dancers and by Zachary Whittenburg their surroundings by bathing them in manipu- lated video, while longtime Chicago dance cos- During a recent trip to New York I had a pair tumer Lara Miller’s asymmetrical avant-garments of experiences that brought my two loves, ar- complement the progressive atmosphere. With chitecture and performance, together. Upon my all the film, fashion, dance, theater and art ex- first visit to the city’s New Museum, I exited a ploding all over town this month, it’s lovely of stairwell and nearly tripped over “Instead of the Seldoms to come up with a single event that allowing some thing to rise up to your face covers all the bases. dancing bruce and dan and other things,” a The Seldoms present Convergence, Sept. 12-13, site-specific dance solo choreographed by Tino 2300 S. Archer; $20 includes drinks. Further in- Sehgal in 2000 and revived for the museum’s formation online at www.theseldoms.org or at current show, After Nature. A young woman 312-328-0303. slowly and methodically spun in broken shapes This weekend marks the beginning of an enor- on the polished concrete floor, her body in such mous fall dance season, which I’ll be covering deep submission to gravity that it seemed she in detail next week. However, a few things to was a mannequin made of molten lead, writhing mention right away are: in an endless mechanized loop. I also stopped —On the off chance you’ve missed it, The Jof- by David Byrne’s Playing the Building, in which frey Ballet has a gorgeous new home at 10 E. a dilapidated ferry terminal was connected by Randolph. The grand opening weekend starts cables and pneumatics to a thrift-store organ Thursday, Sept. 11, at 6:30 p.m. with a free in a way that allowed visitors to sit down at concert at the Jay Pritzker Pavilion: An Evening Convergences. the keyboard and summon knocking pipes and of Remembrances, A Salute to the Victims and creaky columns into an improvised racket. Families of 9/11. The Joffrey Tower opens Fri- As it turns out, these two installations were the day, Sept. 12, with a private black-tie gala, and 78 E. Washington, Sept. 11, 6 p.m., free. really the product of a romance with a pastoral perfect appetizer for The Seldoms’ latest salvo on the afternoon of Saturday, Sept. 13, is an —Matter Dance Company premieres their sec- deity, as she told him, or just a groupie-gone- against the necessity of genre divisions, “Con- open house with four free tours of the facility ond evening-length piece, With A Twist, at the wild accident? Should he abandon his assign- vergence.” As director and choreographer Carrie (casual attire), and on Monday, Sept. 15, there Viaduct Theater, 3111 N. Western, Sept. 11-14, ment to find his own way? His guardian muse Hanson put it, “The 15,000 square-foot garage is a flashy fashion mega-party, “Couture & Cock- 8 p.m.; 773-296-6024 or at www.viaducttheatre. advises him along humanitarian principles, but that will house the work is a principal player in tails.” Joffrey Tower, 10 E. Randolph; more infor- com; $20/$15 students. his victories must frequently be won at the price the project”: She enlisted Joel Huffman to trans- mation at www.joffrey.com —Celia Weiss Bambara and Archana Kumar re- of deception and coercion as cruel as the sacri- form it by constructing four subspaces to host —The excellent About Dance series contin- cently landed here from the West Coast and are fices he, himself, undergoes on his journey to her dance scenes. Large-scale, essentially mini- ues with an antojito (sampling) of Luna Negra joining forces in a shared concert to make your manhood. mal archisculptures in the vein of Zaha Hadid Dance Theater’s upcoming program at the Harris acquaintance. Their dances are polycultural and Heroic myths, to be sure, often entail violent and Richard Serra, they instigate new methods Theater, Ciclos, featuring work by the legend- inquisitive, a fitting inauguration of the season deeds founded on unethical motives, but they of dancemaking by removing the formal stage ary José Limón as well as company founder and of introspection. “Memoirs of Time Continu- also require mystery to elevate itself above mere frame from the equation. The audience will also director Eduardo Vilaro and Hubbard Street alum ing,” Links Hall, 3435 N. Sheffield, Sept. 12-13 dirty tricks. Boyer provides this by declaring his depart from their typical role of sitting quietly Francisco Aviña. This year marks Luna Negra’s at 8 p.m. $12/$10 students. www.linkshall.org primary narrative language to be dance—that in the dark: The cycle of dances will repeat three 10th birthday, as well as Limón’s 100th, and —Kudos are due to Tommy Sutton and his most abstract of tools for emotional expression. times during a five-hour window, allowing ample with talented new dancers and two premieres, daughter, Peggy, whose tap mecca, Mayfair Under his direction at the preview performance time to wander the vast space and test out mul- they have a lot to show off as the company Academy of Fine Arts, was selected as this year’s I attended, the nine-actor ensemble (especially tiple points of view (all while enjoying an adult heads into its second decade. A discussion with recipient of the Ruth Page Award. The Award will the trio of Kate Froehlich, Jennifer LaTurner and beverage or two). It’s not just a dance-and-ar- Vilaro, the dancers and dance critic Lucia Mauro be presented by Venetia Stifler prior to River Amy Sherman, playing three kinds of Weird Sis- chitecture duet, however; media designer Peter will follow the excerpts. Chicago Cultural Center, North Chicago Dance Company’s performance at ters) delivered imaginative spectacle—a Pilobo- Ravinia. 847-266-5100 or at www.ravinia.org. lus knot of bodies is transformed into a moun- The Pavilion at Ravinia, Highland Park, Sept. 13, tain pass, while a simple length of rope or a red 7:30 p.m., $10-30. For more about the academy, silk curtain assume a multiplicity of roles—with see www.mayfairacademy.net. an infectious vigor wholly redeeming the some- times hesitant vocals. Nathan Rohrer’s ingenious THEATER REVIEW costumes and masks reflect the melding of clas- sical and modern ambience, as does the uncred- The Terrible Head ited sound design. Playwright: Andrew Boyer At: Mythical Proportions Theatre CLICK TO WIN at National Pastime’s Just email your answer to Old Speakeasy, 4139 N. Broadway this question: Phone: 773-327-7077; $15-$25 Runs through: Sept. 21 CRITICS’ PICS “What’s your favorite place to BY MARY SHEN BARNIDGE hang out in Chicago?” Weekend, Timeline Theatre, through Oct. Once upon a time, according to Greek myth, 12. It’s déjà vu all over again in Gore Vidal’s there was a colony of creatures called Gorgons. comedy, set in 1968, about a presidential to [email protected] They looked like women (beautiful women, election wherein race and the behavior of a some say) but instead of hair, their heads were candidate’s offspring become flashpoint is- for your chance to win crowned with writhing, hissing snakes—a sight sues. Terry Hamilton is subtly fantastic as a so terrifying that a single glance would, liter- senator with a heart of gold and the instincts EXTRA! EXTRA! ally, turn mortals to stone. The best-known of of a viper. CS Earth Soon To Be In these femmes fatales was Medusa, whose claim Tell Me On A Sunday, Bailiwick Repertory, through Sept. 26. The big pop-opera may be The Grips of... to fame is that she was slain by warrior-assassin Perseus, under the orders of King Polydectes. gone, but this cozy one-woman musical, star- That’s one version of the story. Andrew Lang, ring Harmony France as a spunky English im- DOLL DOMINATION in his 1889 anthology of folk tales, supplied a migrant in search of adventure and romance, the new album from touch of Victorian sentiment by having Perseus’ isn’t leaving yet. MSB mother taken hostage by the rapacious king, The Glass Menagerie, Shattered Globe at THE PUSSYCAT DOLLS who then demands the head of Medusa as the Victory Gardens Greenhouse, through Nov. featuring the first HOT single ransom for her release. For this debut production 2. A great play by a legendary writer—leave "When I Grow Up" by Mythic Proportions Theatre, however, author/ the gay club if you don’t know it’s Tennessee Dominating stores on choreographer Andrew Boyer draws on several Williams—presented by a troupe that prides itself on fine acting and emotional punch September 23rd...EVERYWHERE! sources to render up a yarn at once cognizant of contemporary issues while still steeped in heroic Nixon’s Nixon, Writers’ Theatre, through lore. Oct. 19. This timely and superbly acted re- In Boyer’s account, Perseus is a young musi- vival starring Larry Yando and William Brown cian who illegally copies songs from the royal stresses the ramifications of voting in the libraries, making him vulnerable to arrest by a right person to be President of the United tyrannical monarch looking to be rid of trouble- States. SCM some stepsons. The doubts that fret the young —By Abarbanel, Barnidge, Morgan hero are likewise prevalent in 2008—was his and Sullivan mother complicit in sending him away? Is he Sept. 10, 2008 13 Macheath—musically, the largest role—can steal accurate. He and his brother occupy their night- ambience heightened on opening night by the the show but Gregory Hardigan is capable rather times cutting jewelry and prying dental crowns rain drumming on the roof of Trap Door’s car- than charismatic. The always droll Sara Sevigny from recently-interred corpses. riage-house auditorium, its decay acclimating extracts comedy from Mrs. Peachum, but Graney This distasteful choice of employment, we us to conventions such as characters collapsing doesn’t give comedy full sway. Macheath’s wom- learn, was precipitated by the death of their like unstrung marionettes by way of exiting a en—Polly (Jennifer Coombs), Lucy (Lise “Kat” mother—a traumatic event plunging their fa- scene. Director Max Truax also imposes extensive Evans) and Jenny (Vanessa Greenway)—stand ther into depression that propels him to roam physical interaction on a text rendered stilted out with their signature songs (thank Weill more the streets, dressed in his late wife’s clothes, in by David Bradby’s British-idiom translation— than Brecht) but hardly have fulfilling dramatic which he poses as a prostitute. His son’s dream no Spoon River Anthology talking heads in this roles. of a new start for their bereaved family is in boneyard—to keep the stage picture fluid and This aggressive production reveals the show’s idyllic Switzerland, financed by the treasure they engaging throughout Melquiot’s often nebulous challenges with such imagination that one steal from those who, after all, no longer have chronology. wishes it had conquered them all. FYI: Pianist need of it. Robbing the helpless dead, however, Likewise, securing our attention for the play’s Timothy Splain is superb. is not as safe as the desperate thieves antici- 90-minute running time is an ensemble of ac- pate. tors whose grasp of their respective personae THEATER REVIEW Andrew Marvell may have declared “the grave’s reflects an infectious suspension of disbelief The Threepenny Opera. Photo by Margaret K. a fine and private place/but none, I think, do that quickly draws us into their universe. David Lakin No Darkness there embrace,” but the revenants in actor- Steiger and Kevin Lucero Less anchor the action turned-playwright Fabrice Melquiot’s whimsical as the two Beckettian siblings, Casey Chapman’s Round My Stone view of the hereafter are not content to requies- stereotyped poet and Tiffany Joy Ross’ likewise THEATER REVIEW Playwright: Fabrice Melquiot cat in pace. Indeed, the sole still-breathing par- generic phantom bride do what they can with At: Trap Door Theatre, 1655 W. Cortland ticipant—a nervous necrophile poet searching, what they are given, but Cassandra Kaluza’s exu- The Threepenny Phone: 773-384-0491; $20 à la Edgar Allen Poe, for his recently deceased berant ingenue and Bob Wilson’s stately Sunset Runs through: Oct. 11 Opera beloved—emerges as an almost unwelcome in- Boulevard-styled transvestite redeem the occa- Playwright: Kurt Weill (music), terruption to the far more interesting antics of sional doldrum with humor and presence. BY MARY SHEN BARNIDGE Bertolt Brecht (book and lyrics) the departed. At: The Hypocrites at Steppenwolf Scenic designer Ewelina Dobiesz envisions “What’s your job?” a young lady asks the boy Reskin Theatre, 1624 N. Halsted our cemetery setting less as that of a pastoral she’s just met. “I’m a gold-digger,” replies the Phone: 312-335-1650; $20-$25 garden than of a gone-to-seed funeral parlor, smitten lad. In a manner of speaking, this is Runs through: Oct. 12

BY JONATHAN ABARBANEL

Director Sean Graney and The Hypocrites—bor- rowing heavily on House Theatre personnel— present a big, ambitious and creative production ABBA–SOLUTELY LIVE! of this famous but rarely-seen 1927 musical work by Brecht and Weill, which hasn’t been produced professionally in Chicago in over a decade. It’s dramatically and musically challenging, in part because the principal characters are unpleasant to equal degrees, and because Brecht shifts fo- cus between them so often. Set during the coronation of Queen Victoria ON (1837 London), The Threepenny Opera spoofs conventions of opera and sentimental drama while offering caustic comment on capital- SALE ist corruption among high officials and lowlife gangs. There are several excellent and accurate NOW translations of the German original, but The Hypocrites use composer Marc Blitzstein’s rather free 1953 adaptation. It’s retrograde but it’s the most familiar English version around (“Oh, the shark has pretty teeth, dear” Blitzstein trans- lated the Ballad of Mack the Knife, here silkily intoned by Alex Balestrieri). The Hypocrites give Threepenny a bold and highly visual physical production (Lee Keenan, scenic; Maggie Fullilove-Nugent, lighting), with the audience seated along two walls of a square at least 80 feet on a side. An upright piano— the only musical instrument—sits dead center flanked by two curving free-form tables, each about 40 feet long and seating 20 audience members. The large cast (18) performs upon and around these tables, and in all corners of the square. Graney and choreographers Tommy Rapley (dance) and Matt Hawkins (fight) keep the troupe in almost constant motion, some- times running in a pack. The colorful, clown- like costumes (Alison Siple) suggest many times and social stations but definitely are urban and European/American. The venue’s concrete walls are draped in canvas teaming with urban graffiti (Corey Pejza, artist). No question, it’s a visual

wow. ©LITTLESTAR But scale and acoustics also create problems: 15 people thundering across a wooden floor buries dialogue and music (especially in Act I). Even with Michael Griggs’s intelligent sound design, words are lost when performers are far September 17–28 off, and sometimes shouting singers lose melody lines as they struggle to hear the piano while (312)902-1400• negotiating Weill’s devilishly tricky chromatics. Graney makes physical demands of his players Tickets also available at the Auditorium Theatre of Roosevelt University and that a veteran musical theater director would all Broadway In Chicago box offices and retail locations. avoid and Actors Equity probably would forbid. It’s engaging nonetheless, although Graney, www.mamma-mia.com Groups (20+) call too, hasn’t decided where to place emphasis be- MAMMA MIA! ORIGINAL CAST RECORDING AVAILABLE ON DECCA BROADWAY (312) 977-1710 yond the clear political message. A charismatic 14 Sept. 10, 2008 THEATER REVIEW thankful.) With the exception of an opening rap number about Jesus, Promise falls flat and fails bobrauschenberg- to unify around a coherent target. Directed by Brian Wilson and written by the six-person cast, america Promise has a terrific premise— but as it disin- Playwright: Charles L. Mee tegrates into mind-numbing scatological humor At: Chicago Fusion Theatre at and pointless, predictable lewdness, it fails to Gorilla Tango Theatre, 1919 N. Milwaukee live up to the promise of that premise. Phone: 773-598-4549; $10-$20 Runs through: Sept. 28 THEATER REVIEW

BY SCOTT C. MORGAN Heroes and Villains Playwright: Daniel Janoff Bob Rauschenberg, known as the father of the At: Collaboraction at Theatre Building American pop-art movement, died this past May Chicago, 1225 W. Belmont at the age of 82. He left behind multitudes of Phone: 773-327-5252; $18-$25 works known as “combines” that blended paint- Runs through: Sept. 21 ing, collage, found objects and taxidermy ani- mals to reflect American life. Heroes and Villains. Photo by Kirstie Shanley BY JONATHAN ABARBANEL There’s dramatic potential in Rauschenberg’s life, particularly when he divorced his wife Daniel Janoff is a successful writer but a new- coupling of Pat King’s Allen (who looks like a ingly stoopid. Even when the material crashes of two years and started pursuing men in the comer to theater. In Heroes and Villains he grown-up Ralphie out of A Christmas Story) and and burns, there’s an infectious zest to the pro- 1950s. But that gets only a passing glance in makes mistakes common to inexperienced play- Carl, portrayed the elastic Paul Fagen. ceedings. It’s difficult not to get swept up in Charles Mee’s 2001 play bobrauschenbergamer- wrights, yet holds interest with quirky but ap- I would have liked more punch to the sparring the full-speed-ahead-even-if-it-means-plowing- ica, which is basically a random assemblage of pealing characters and a touch of mystery. lovers of Wilson and Susan, portrayed capably by into-a-brick-wall recklessness exuberance of the text and ideas inspired by the iconic pop artist’s At heart a love story, it’s set in a small scenic Michael Salinas and Nilsa Reyna, the way that thing. work. lake town where thirtysomething beauty salon Jakub Haczkiewicz’s disturbing take on the mur- First up is Hipsters, directed by Rich Sohn and Mee’s bobrauschenbergamerica serves as a owner Rhett Benton (Peter Defaria) and thirty- derous Pizza Guy unsettled everyone and spurred featuring Tim Baltz and Josh Walker as two hip- template for any theater company, Chicago Fu- something Sunshine Merritt (Wendy Weber) fall some extracurricular thinking. per-than-thou poseurs whose pals-before-gals sion Theatre in this case, to dabble into doing for each other even though she’s come to cancel Jason Huysman’s hobo Becker, Lindsey Don- vows are torn asunder by a comely young hobby performance art that can be both palpable and Rhett’s dad’s pension. Chuck Benton is an ag- ley’s childish Roller Girl and Laura Lodewyck as store employee (Hanna Sanders). The script col- pretentious. ing body-builder reluctant to demonstrate the Bob’s Mom round out the cast. They’re all hard- laboration by the cast clunks at times, but the Since each theater company’s cast and design feats of strength which made him famous, es- working, but their overall efforts don’t make physical shtick is rarely less than inspired. Baltz team has to illuminate the play, you can’t re- pecially the superhuman 1983 incident in which bobrauschenbergamerica anything deeper than is an amalgam of affected mannerisms in a pair ally fault Mee for his “Aren’t I clever?” textual he pushed a speeding truck off the road to save a weird detour into performance-art land. of orange-tinted Foster Grants. With two words posturing that easily become cloying. So it’s im- a stalled automobile. National media declared (“Excuse me”) he can reduce the audience to a portant to keep audiences transfixed amid Mee’s Chuck a superhero, crowds flocked town, tourism group of giggling idiots. As his slightly grosser, mix of banalities and deep insights that make THEATER REVIEW grew and the local economy prospered. But what louder counterpart, Walker makes a fine foil. The you go “Whoa!” really happened 25 years ago? It’s of particular Short Shorts two play off each other like blue-footed boo- Chicago Fusion’s Theatre’s production, under importance to Wendy, a woman not given to ar- Playwrights: Various bies in mid-mating dance—spastic, absurd and Jack Tamburri’s direction, does the best it can ticles of faith; yet her unexpected relationship At: Annoyance Thaetre, 4830 N. Broadway laugh-out-loud funny. in the storefront Gorilla Tango Theatre space. If with Rhett depends on her willingness to be- Phone: 773-561-4665 Next up is Deprived, a weird-out musical about Chicago Fusion didn’t have to share it with other lieve, or Chuck’s willingness to prove his case. a sleep deprivation study. Directed by the un- theater companies, the installation art aspect of Runs through: Sept. 28 The play’s strongest moments are the Rhett- failingly inspiring (even it’s to roll your eyes in, the show could have been even more complex Wendy scenes, which are extraordinarily unfan- um, annoyance) Mike Canale, Deprived follows and overwhelming. BY CATEY SULLIVAN cy but written carefully, quietly and playfully, an increasingly crazed trio of misfits as they try As it is, the movable and slightly surreal set thereby allowing the audience to take pleasure to survive as lab rats. Jason Grimm’s music man- pieces of a tub, a window frame and a cardboard Not to be confused with the 1970s Nair com- in the attraction so obviously unfolding. Defaria ages to create the sensibility of a bizarre dream hobo shanty are just okay (more projections and mercial featuring leggy models frolicking in hot and Weber amplify the understated words with while cleverly mimicking all the tired tropes of effects like the stars made from a flashlight and pants, Annoyance Theatre’s Short Shorts is cou- wonderful body language, as if drawn to each musical theaterdom. A duet about dreams is a sieve would have been welcome). rageous, sloppy, sometimes unfunny and some- other magnetically. Director Anthony Moseley shopstopping mash-up of lullaby land-of-Nod The cast on the other hand, is more than eager times as energetically refreshing as a slap up- has guided them well; they are the heart of He- fantasy and war-torn Latvia. And a number in- to please and they frequently go all out for the side the head. With three one-acts, Short Shorts roes and Villains. volving a dancing baby (Who will maybe grow up script, be it stripping down to their skivvies or showcases divergent degrees of improv, writing As to the rest, well, Janoff puts a lot on the to be a famous tap dancer—like Savion Glover of flailing about like a fish out of water. and character development. table and leaves most of it. For example, he Jon Benet Ramsey!) is a trippy goof. Morgan Maher and Natalie DiCristofano make In all, it is a rollicking hot mess lumped around suggests that Rhett is a super-human beauti- The weakest of the three skits is Jacoby’s for an attractive couple as Phil the Trucker and flashes of comedic brilliance. (Speaking of the cian who instinctively transforms women with Promise, wherein the ultra-conservative Jaco- Phil’s Girl (who readily enjoys applying the va- latter: Listen for the absolutely priceless line hairstyles that unlock their inner potential and by family hosts a slumber party on the eve of voom of a pinup girl). They also confidently about irony overcompensating into honesty. It’s happiness. It’s a wonderful idea—especially in young Kendall Jacoby’s Purity Ball. (And if you inhabit their roles as playful American arche- absolutely fireproof.) Further, Short Shorts has a contrast to the conventional muscular super- haven’t heard of those creepy marriage/chas- types. cast so committed, you find yourself rooting for heroism of Rhett’s dad—but Janoff doesn’t de- tity/my-heart-belongs-to-daddy ceremonies, be There’s a nice tenderness in the occasional gay them even when the material gets head-scratch- velop it. He also has four secondary characters who have little or nothing to do. In theater, where every actor is a weekly salary, you use ‘em CULTURE CLUB or lose ‘em. Janoff must make them important to the story. The setting, too, is underdeveloped. Janey’s Beauty Salon by day becomes Janey’s Saloon at night as booze bottles replace sham- poo bottles. Fun idea, but Janoff doesn’t use it to any purpose so why bother setting it up? Tall Danny Goldring looks even taller as the strong, mostly silent Chuck Benton, wearing cos- tume designer Aly Greaves’ muscle-padded jeans and flannel shirts. One wants his role enlarged, especially since Janoff never gives a defini- tive answer about the superhero thing. Freshly clean-shaven Richard Cotovsky was shaky on opening night in the major supporting role, hav- ing replaced an ailing actor on short notice, but his chops will be fine when he settles in. If Janoff can build on what he’s begun, Heroes and Villains could have a future.

For more shows and listings, check out www.WindyCityMediaGroup.com Sept. 10, 2008 15

ONLY TWO ACT NOW! WEEKS LEFT TO BUY! 16 Sept. 10, 2008 from now, saying with a dramatic flounce, “Oh you think—this is a 1930s movie?,” the audi- L’amour! L’amour!” Nope. But that doesn’t mean ence laughs with the insider’s reference to the that this version of The Women, an amalgama- original 1939 film, but the point is that this is KNIGHT tion of The Stepford Wives, The First Wives Club exactly what the audience wants this version of and Sex and the City isn’t worth taking in. It is. The Women to be. Focusing on female empow- AT But fans of the original should alter their expec- erment, finding their own identity in a man’s THE tations while those who haven’t experienced the world and starting female-based empires like verbal sparring between Russell, Crawford, Mary Oprah’s are fine up to a point, but the movie MOVIES Boland, et al., should take in this new version still satisfies most when it offers the audience first, if only to give it a fair shake. the old-fashioned stuff—the verbal zingers, the English, who makes her debut with the film, chance to revel in the deluxe world of privilege has re-fashioned this new version into a modern- these ladies take for granted (complete with day sisterhood movie, a decided shift away from couture fashion show) and, most of all, the op- the shallowness of the source material in which portunity to see the anxiety and heartbreak that all the women cared about nothing but the un- such wealth and beauty exact on characters like seen men. Though there’s still plenty of bitchery these. High-class suffering has always been a in evidence, this edition of the beloved classic cornerstone of the chick flick, and more of that is more about supporting your sister, not ripping would have gone a long way in helping this her to shreds the minute her back is turned. The movie radiate. The Women; plot again focuses on sweet Mary Haines (Meg Note: I’ll be discussing my review of The Wom- Ryan, still perky and still wearing those ringlets Eva Mendes in The Women. en as a guest on the “Critic for a Day” segment Screening note as she fills in for sanctimonious Shearer) whose on WTTW’s “Chicago Tonight” on Monday, Sept. husband, Stephen (a high-flying financier who 15. The program airs on Channel 11 at 7 p.m. (Swoon) is unseen, like all the men) is stepping out with much more importance than Mary winning Ste- By Richard Knight, Jr. Crystal Allen, who works behind the perfume phen back. Debra Messing as the constantly Screening of note: counter (Eva Mendes taking the Crawford part pregnant Edie (whose gift with physical comedy —Queer writer-director Tom Kalin was one of Surely one of the most adored movies of all time and doing little with it). Though the infamous is used to good effect) and Jada Pinkett Smith the filmmakers responsible for kick-starting the by gay men of a certain age is . This The Women encounter between Mary and Crystal still occurs as Edie, the lesbian book writer (who is given queer cinema movement in the early 1990s with 1939 classic helmed by gay director George Cukor in the dressing room (“If Stephen doesn’t like next to nothing to do) round out the quartet, his fascinating Swoon, his 1992 version of the starred Norma Shearer, Joan Crawford, Rosalind what I’m wearing, I take it off,” Crystal retorts while the Joan Fontaine and Paulette Goddard true-life tale of infamous gay lovers Loeb and Russell and a cast of expert supporting play- to Mary’s jab at her choice of lingerie) there’s roles have been eliminated altogether. Leopold, who murdered a teenage boy for kicks. ers—all women. Seemingly, the only concern of not much heft to it. That’s because, unlike the This refocusing gives the movie less super- Kalin’s film, stylishly shot in black and white, these ladies is their men, or lack thereof. The original, it’s not quite the end of the world when ficiality but also less opportunity for outright incorporates actual footage of the killers and film was based on the successful play by Clare the marriage falls apart. comedy—though there are still plenty of laughs. frankly portrays their rather disturbing relation- Booth Luce, and screenwriters Anita Loos and What’s more devastating—or so it seems—is (“He’s having an affair with the spritzer girl?” ship. A rare short film by Loeb about bird-watch- Jane Murfin spruced it up and gave it plenty of the end of the close friendship between Mary “What do you think she sells, Chanel No. Shit?” ing will precede the screening which takes place zingers. A misguided remake called The Opposite and Sylvie (Annette Bening, taking on the Rus- is one typical exchange.) These are to be expect- Monday, September 15th at the Gene Siskel Film Sex appeared in 1956, adding songs and men as sell part). The character of Sylvie has been mor- ed from English, a pro at comic dialogue. It’s Center at 8:15pm. Kalin will be present for audi- a twist; June Allyson, Joan Collins and Dolores phed by English from a cartoon villain into a also no surprise that former sitcom stars Mess- ence discussion. www.siskelfilmcenter.com Grey headed the cast in that not-very-successful compassionate best friend for Mary, an aging ing, Cloris Leachman (as Mary’s maid), Candice Check out my archived reviews at www. version. For years now, there’s been talk of an- magazine editor who is blackmailed into giving Bergen (who brings grace and sophistication windycitytimes.com or www.knightatthemov- other remake in the rumor mill and, now, in the a gossip writer (played by a somnambulistic Car- to the film) and Bette Midler (as the countess, ies.com. Readers can leave feedback at the hands of “Murphy Brown” writer-director Diane rie Fisher) the scoop on the love triangle (hence, whose screen time is reduced to two scenes) de- latter Web site, where there is also ordering English, a new version is finally here. the rift). The ruptured friendship between Mary liver the movie’s biggest laughs. information on my book of collected film re- Can it compare to the original? Not for a and Sylvie, the relationship of both to Mary’s When Meg Ryan’s character says, “What do views, Knight at the Movies 2004-2006. second. Will gay men be quoting from it years daughter and Mary’s finding herself all take on

gonna make me clutch my pearls.” My mother is Out for blood a strong inspiration. The base core of Lafayette By Lawrence Ferber is my mother. My mother is a sexual creature and I wanted to make him like sex and bleed sex. HBO’s new series True Blood imagines a world Not mannerisms, just the way she operated as a where vampires have stepped out of the closet sexual creature. and strive for integration within human society— LF: I love the first episodes—we haven’t re- but there are very bad apples in both baskets. ally seen someone like Lafayette on TV be- Within True Blood’s rich mythology, humans get fore. sexual highs from vampire blood, which is dealt NE: I do, too. I’m highly blessed. But I come like a drug by humans, and all manner of sexual from a very religious family and I didn’t tell my orientations exist. mother about this at all. My mother lives in the Created by out Oscar/Emmy winner Alan woods and doesn’t have cable. I told my father Ball (American Beauty, Six Feet Under) and and he’s not going to watch it. He says, “You’re based on author Charlaine Harris’s bestselling playing a sissy.” But I tell him I feel blessed “Sookie Stackhouse” novels, True Blood stars to be playing this character because I love it. Anna Paquin as Sookie, a small town Louisiana I think Alan Ball is a genius; I am fortunate. waitress blessed/cursed with the ability to read And he goes, “Ah, OK.” I think it’s a wonderful people’s minds—except for a vampire’s. One show and Alan is … so many words I can’t think of the show’s standout regular characters is Nelsan Ellis and Anna Paquin, two stars of HBO’s “True Blood.” Photos by John P. Johnson/HBO of. And the freedom he lets us have on set is Lafayette Reynolds, played by Alabama-raised, (Ellis) and Jaimie Trueblood/HBO (Paquin) unheard of. L.A.-based actor Nelsan Ellis. A gay cook and LF: Without spoiling too much, what else line and feminine and those colors can come out involved in shady business. Is he a good guy escort—amongst other lurid entrepreneurial en- can you tell me about what happens with whenever. or a bad guy? terprises—who falls somewhere between cock- Lafayette this season? Does he meet gay LF: And how does Lafayette’s storyline dif- NE: I think what makes him a dangerous char- sure hyper-masculine thug and flaming makeup- vampires? fer from the one in the books? acter is he had to fight to be who he is. Because wearing queen, Lafayette plays a huge role in NE: He has a main [vampire] squeeze—that a NE: In the book he’s part of this underground he has a great thirst for possessions and money the show, which the Julliard-trained Ellis took name actor will be playing—who supplies him sex organization in the town; he’s having sex he schemes to do all these different things for time out to discuss. with vampire blood in exchange for sexual fa- with closeted men—a very down-low thing. And the lifestyle he has. I think he’s damaged but a Lawrence Ferber: What are the biggest dif- vors. he got killed in the books—so he wouldn’t ex- good-hearted dude. His friends can depend on ferences between the Lafayette of the novels LF: Do you wish Lafayette was or would be- pose what’s going on in the underground. Alan him. and the HBO series? come a vampire? was true to that [former part], he’s sleeping LF: Have you used any people you met or Nelsan Ellis: In the book I don’t like him. NE: I don’t wish he was a vampire. What makes with the senator in the series and nobody knows friends as an influence or inspiration for your Alan’s Lafayette has dimensions—the book’s him Lafayette is he’s human. If he becomes a and there’s a cliffhanger at the end of the 12th performance? doesn’t. He’s flamboyant and wears makeup in vampire it’ll be fun, but as a human he maneu- episode and we’ll see what happens. Because NE: Absolutely. I live at the gay club and ev- the book. That was a huge challenge for me be- vers so well between them, it puts him in a posi- his storyline is pretty much new and it deviates erything I have ad-libbed came straight from cause I came in originally trying to do my idea tion of power—when he can find a vampire, who from the books in terms of making him more of a the horses’ mouths. I literally wrote it down, of what a drag queen was. The description is: are the ones with the power of manipulation, presence in the show, I never know what they’re and say it at some point and Alan keeps it. I He’s a masculine man with lipstick and makeup and take advantage of him. That’s power. going to do next. heard a dude go, “Ooh, you gonna make me on. I was like, “Huh? How you gonna do that?” True Blood airs Sundays at 9 p.m. CT on LF: When we first meet Lafayette he’s a clutch my pearls.” I was like, “That is marvel- I had to work on making him a real person be- HBO. cook working in the restaurant where Sookie ous!” And whenever Lafayette sees some dude cause Alan wants to see a real person and not waitresses, and then we learn he’s an escort he’s ridiculously attracted to he goes, “Ooh, you a stereotype. But we mixed it up so he’s mascu- Sept. 10, 2008 17 LF: Have you been keeping up with Califor- Suddenly nia’s Proposition 8, a balloted measure that, if passed during the election, would forbid Susan Sarandon same-sex marriage in the state? By LAWRENCE FERBER SS: No, since I’m not from California I’m not up to speed on that. You know, I think so much In the HBO original film Bernard and Doris, Su- of [the controversy over gay marriage] has to do san Sarandon played billionaire tobacco heiress with language. The word “marriage” does trig- Doris Duke, while Ralph Fiennes portrayed her ger things in a lot of people, and it’s a shame dedicated gay butler, Bernard Lafferty. Despite we can’t find a way to get around that because a low budget (around a half-million dollars), Sa- what it does is really polarize people and make randon looked like a billion dollars and snagged it about something it really doesn’t need to an Emmy nomination for Outstanding Actress in be about. But I think separate from the legal a Miniseries or Movie. Fiennes received an Out- aspects of being able to share with your part- standing Actor nomination, while eight addi- ner and own a house and have rights to your tional noms were lavished upon the production. kids and insurance and all that, if you ask most Politically outspoken, progressive and a long- Susan Sarandon in Bernard and Doris. Photo by Alison Rosa/HBO Americans “Does everyone have a right to be time gay ally, Sarandon has starred in numerous happy?” they’ll say “Yes.” I’m not married so I’m iconic, queer favorite films, including Thelma & probably the wrong person to talk to about how significant it is to be married. I’ve created a life Louise, The Rocky Horror Picture Show and The believe Bernard loves Doris. SS: They’re not interested in seeing any of my that isn’t about a traditional marriage, but I un- Hunger (in which she went lesbian for vampire LF: The film is an “imagined” account of films. [Laughs] They don’t watch them. I don’t derstand why some people want that kind of a Catherine Deneuve). I caught up with Sarandon, their six-year relationship/friendship—Doris think they’re too interested in seeing me suf- metaphor, a symbol. who lives in Manhattan with longtime partner ultimately left Bernard control of her estate fer or kiss or anything. If they’re in [one of my LF: You haven’t been asked to take part in Tim Robbins, by phone to discuss Bernard and when she died—so that gave you, director films], like when they were in Stepmom, they MTV’s Rocky Horror remake as of yet, but what Doris, MTV’s upcoming Rocky Horror remake, Bob Balaban and writer Hugh Costello a lot would watch the parts they were in. They were do you think of the project? California’s anti-gay marriage Proposition 8 and of dramatic and narrative license. How did ev- interested in Speed Racer—the boys came to SS: I wish them luck. “Don’t dream it, be it” just how far she’d go to raise money for a charity eryone decide which direction to go in? Berlin and knew everybody in the film and be- is a fabulous message that speaks to a lot of or cause. SS: We didn’t want it to be about his obsession came friends with some and they liked that one. people, and the music’s fun and it has a great Lawrence Ferber: Congrats on the Emmy with her, some creepy obsession that was one- In a film I just did with Pierce Brosnan [titled sense of humor. I just don’t know what the angle nominations. So how was working with Ralph sided. I really thought these people have decid- The Greatest], Miles auditioned and got a little [of a remake] would be. I’d like to have been in Fiennes, and did he mince between takes? ed they would be the witnesses to each other’s acting part so he’ll probably look at himself in that pitch meeting to see how they were doing Susan Sarandon: I had a blast working with lives and he should always be there. Even when that, and Jack was on the camera crew. But I’m it. With all guys? Maybe they should do it with Ralph, and it’s so great he also got a nomina- she’s dealing with her boyfriends she looks to still their mom. all guys in drag and do Tim Curry’s part with a tion. He does this fabulous character that’s so Bernard. They’re in on the secret of each other LF: So they’re moving into adult film ca- woman. dignified and so sweet, so smart and can actu- and the kindness they show each other is re- reers? The 60th Primetime Emmy Awards will air ally run that house. Doris gives him permission ally moving. So we tried to make it special in SS: I don’t know they know that for sure. Eva on ABC on Sunday, Sept. 21 at 7 p.m. Bernard to be who he is which starts to become more that way, and that’s something maybe people is pretty set on being an actor and writer and and Doris is currently available on DVD, with over-the-top and a little bit more colorful, grow- thought they were getting as a little added bo- producer. She’s done five or six films now and extras that include a featurette about the real ing out his hair and the clothes become a little nus. she’s living in the Village, working. We did a film Bernard & Doris. more flamboyant. Is that mincing? I don’t know. LF: You have three children: Eva Amurri that’s in the Toronto International Film Festival Read the entire interview with Susan Saran- I love the way he holds his hands. He has so (23), Jack (19) and Miles (16). What do they [Middle of Nowhere]. She’s pretty clear. Miles is don at www.WindyCityMediaGroup.com. much integrity and you don’t want to be sucked think of Bernard and Doris or, for that matter, very involved in music; he’s in a fabulous band. into some goofy cliché that everybody is expect- The Hunger? Or have you banned them from Jack is interested in film [and attending USC], ing. I think he did a brilliant job and you really seeing some of your catalog? and that’s what USC is so good at.

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LAKE GENEVA WIS- $475 - $585/mo w/ no sec. dep. 773-392-4550 vide and develop or just build your dream www.estate-like-no-other.info CONSIN: Approximately 1 acre property. Vintage brick www.landstarrealty.com. (09/10/08-1) home.Between Lake Michigan and the St. Victorian. Approximately 2,700 Sq. ft with luxury guest 1525 W. ESTES AVE. - ROGERS PARK STUDIO: Beautiful, Joseph River. 75 minutes from Chicago. Unique Larry Booth design on 20 house. 2.5 new garage, 1 vintage garage. Totally updat- sunny & spacious studios with HWF & heat included. beautifully rolling and wooded ed. 2 blocks from lake, 4 blocks from downtown. Many Laundry in building. Close to lake, transportation & shop- Serving Your Real Estate Needs acres with mature landscaping uses, business zoning. Now used as B&B. $649,000 ping. $565/mo w/ no sec. dep. Call 773-392-4550 Across Southwest Michigan and gardens. Very private, but for sale by owner. Call toll free 1-877-249-0632. www.landstarrealty.com. (09/24/08-4) near good shopping, dining, the (3/26/08-4) Indiana dunes, Lake Michigan TWO BEDROOM beaches, and Michigan’s Harbor Lars Petzke CONDO HUGE 2 BD/BA. 943 W. AINSLIE: Absolutely beautiful Country. Low IN property taxes. Realtor, GRI, ePRO very large 2 bedroom/2bath in Margate Park (Marine Dr ShipStreetRealty.com Glass-enclosed 9x60 foot lap pool BRING YOUR DESIGNER MUSE & Ainslie) Great Kitchen. Formal Dining room. Deck with grill. MB is 21X12 with walk-in closet. Parking Avail- larspetzke.blogspot.com Sale by owner 773-643-7504 able. Great transportation to loop. $1,750/mo. Call 3100 Sheridan 7D. C: 269-369-6348 $2.37 million 773-704-8880 (09/10/08-1) 3 bed/2 bath, 1700 sq. FOREST PARK: Unique 2BR in vintage greystone 4 unit St. Joseph, MI ft. home at The Barry, 90 minutes to Chicago an elegant vintage on quiet street. 1 Block to downtown, walk to El. Re- E: LPetzke@ MILLER BEACH HOME: Two new homes minutes to Lake modeled bath and kitchen with dishwasher (1 BR could ShipStreetRealty.com Belmont Harbor Michigan in a quiet eclectic community. Homes sit on landmark. also make a great office). Includes parking, heat & laun- over an acre of woods and sand dunes. Ample room dry. $925/mo. 708-771-5123 (09/17/08-3) CONDO SOUTH HAVEN, MICH 3BR/3BA: Sharp 1-1/2 for an outdoor pool without compromising yard space. Close to nature preserves, deer and wild turkey can be THREE BEDROOM story unit best location steps to beach, finest owner Lino Darchun, Coldwell Banker seen walking through the yards in the morning and eve- ARTIST’S DELIGHT: Vintage beauty. Huge 3 bedroom, care. $439,000 Call Genie for listing info, pics, map. 312-397-3082, [email protected] or ning. Homes are 2200 to 2300 sq ft. Open floor plans, HomeFinders Realty 269-637-3775 homefinderssh@ http://thebarry7d.com/ $299,000. sunporch, dining room. E. Rogers Park. 14 foot ma- comcast.net (09/03/08-4) cathedral foyer; hardwood, ceramic and carpeted floors. hogany fireplace. Oak floors,doors. 3 blocks to beach. FABULOUS HARBOR COUNTRY COTTAGE: Near Down- Appliances included, two and half car garages Great op- $1,375/mo. includes heat, laundry, storage. 714- town New Buffalo. Hand crafted Arts and Crafts cottage. portunity for a vacation home or a permanent residence 222-6162 (09/24/08-3) 2 Bdrm w/ Studio. Private retreat. Please contact for @ $246,000 or get friends or family together and buy details and photos. 602-295-8331 traveleer@mac. both for $470,000. Call Angel today 219-614-5012 or com for photos (9/03/08-8) [email protected] (12/26/07-2)

be ready to step back in time as you explore the ROME from page 11 ancient monuments by day; feast upon gourmet Italian dinners with real gelato for dessert in a little further out is The Frutta & Verdura Bed the evening; and then perhaps sip a nightcap & Breakfast—and both are very conveniently lo- with an Italian stallion to complete your Roman cated for sightseeing and enjoying the nightlife. holiday. Close to the main train station is the very gay- Helpful Web sites: friendly and cheap Edyta Bed & Breakfast; how- —flyzoom.com, berninibristol.com, auditori- ever, despite the price, you will still enjoy your um.com, gayvillage.it, gaymap.info, rome-bed- own spacious, clean room with a bathroom, plus breakfast.eu, italiantourism.com, rome.info and friendly and helpful owner operators. It is still romeitaly.ca possible to enjoy Rome on a limited budget, but advance research and early booking are musts. However, if you are looking for a decadent treat on a special anniversary, honeymoon or getaway Rooftop gardens and (right) the Piazza Garibaldi. Photos courtesy of Roy Heale with your lover, then The Bernini Bristol—a Sina hotel and member of the International Gay & Lesbian Travel Association—is perfect. The hotel that Rome has to offer in culture, history and Paris is a must at least once during your vaca- is set in a 19th-century Roman palace located at gay life. tion, but the prices are around $100 per person Piazza Barberini, and is close to many traditional Any lover of Italian food should be prepared for a three-course gourmet dining experience. Roman sights including the Trevi Fountain, The for a true gourmet delight, but it can also be However, there is a guaranteed vacation memory Spanish Steps and the famous Via Veneto. Here, an expensive undertaking. When planning your to match every penny spent. you can pander in decadence and even luxuriate dining adventure, it is advisable to leave the For Canadians, it is now much easier and in one of their suites with your very own large tourist areas and head off into the side streets cheaper to fly to Rome from Montreal or Toron- rooftop garden overlooking the city. All of the to find a pizzeria or smaller cafe where you can to, thanks to the low-cost Zoom Airlines. Base the rooms are spacious and include ultra-modern enjoy a traditional Italian four-course dinner— fares for a one-way trip can be as low as $279 or classic décor with indulgent amenities. They perhaps including antipasta, pizza, veal, pasta (plus tax) and, for a little extra, you can pur- also have a gourmet rooftop restaurant with a or other Roman specialties—at more reasonable chase premium seating with extra leg room. The 360-degree view of the city. prices. Try to avoid dining at the attractive and economy fare baggage allowance is a generous Whatever type of holiday home-away-from- very appealing umbrella-saturated restaurants 20 kilograms (44.1 pounds) for checked baggage home suits your budget, you can find multiple on the beautiful piazzas where you will pay a plus one carry-on and the in-flight meals are ex- choices in Rome. However, it is likely that you high price for the view as well as your meal! cellent, soaring way above the average airline will probably spend very little time in your hotel Of course, dinner on the Via Veneto at one of cuisine with no extra costs. room if you intend to experience and enjoy all the renowned restaurants like Harry’s or Cafe de So when in Rome, don your walking shoes and Sept. 10, 2008 19 CLASSIFIEDS YOU OWE IT TO YOURSELF!: Experience the therapeu- ADvertise here SERVING THE LGBTQ COMMUNITY: Safe, supportive, HELP WANTED Four tic benefits of deep tissue/wellness massage by a li- ADVERTISE HERE: Want to advertise your product, ser- affirming, psychotherapy for individuals, couples, and WEDNESDAY MORNING NEWSPAPER DELIVERY: censed GBM professional. Relieve stress, feel better! vice, etc. to thousands of readers? Place an ad in the families dealing with depression, anxiety, relationship/ hours, $56. Must have car and insurance. Please call Non-sexual. South Shore Area. 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A sad farewell Stylish soiree Comedian Jessica Halem and her partner, Red, (in lower right photo) held a goodbye party The Out Traveler Magazine and W Hotel hosted a stylish party Aug. 8 on the top of the chic Aug. 29 at Star Gaze, 5419 N. Clark. The couple will be moving to Washington state, where Lake Shore W Hotel, 644 N. Lake Shore, which has an enormous round floor that, at times, Red will be teaching at Evergreen State College. However, Halem plans to return to Chicago slowly revolves for everyone to marvel at the absolutely gorgeous Chicago views. Photos by periodically, as she is lining up comedic gigs. Photos by Mel Ferrand Steve Starr; for further information, phone 773-252-5171. 20 Sept. 10, 2008

Amigas Latinas’ lucky 13 By MEL FERRAND

La Cocina de Frida, 5403 N. Clark, was all aglow on Aug. 30 when the restaurant was transformed into a dance club for Amigas Latinas’ 13th-anniversary dance. Latin beats and laughter poured out into the otherwise quiet street causing more than one passerby to stop in their tracks and peer into the window. If they looked long and carefully enough, they realized what they were seeing was a dance floor filled with women whirling, twirling, and laughing. Started as a social and support group, Amigas Latinas has grown into an organization with a full board and the short-term plan to hire its first full-time staff. However, while staying true to its roots, Amigas also offers an annual scholarship to young Latinas either entering or currently enrolled in college. This year there were two recipients: Janeida Rivera and Nasya Mendoza-Elias, the latter who identifies herself as a queer Latina Jew. Both women have quite impressive portfolios. As a high-school student at Pedro Albizu Campos H.S., Rivera confronted the collective at the Puerto Rican Cultural Center (PRCC) bringing to light that LGBTQ issues were not being addressed directly. In addition, Rivera founded Ambiente del Paseo a group that is part of the PRCC. Mendoza-Elias is a pre-med student at the University of Chicago and is active with Queer & Associates, the student organization sponsored by the Office of Multi-Cultural Student Affairs. Photos by Mel Ferrand

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Wednesday, Sept. 10 show opening reception. 6-10 p.m., 224 S. Michigan Ave., $50, tickets ited by Tracy Baim. Meet many of the AIDS Legal Council of Chicago 20th Flat Iron Arts Building, 1579 N. Mil- at www.architecture.org/tour_view. writers and photographers featured in Anniversary Summer Party, “Tropica- waukee Ave., $5 suggested donation aspx?TourID=149, info at http://gay- the book. 7 p.m., 5233 N. Clark St., lia.” 6-8:30 p.m., Sidetrack, 3349 N. Seven’s Cabaret Michelle L’amour’s pros.meetup.com/283 773-769-6729 Halsted St., tickets start at $50, RSVP “Lipshtick,” a burlesque show. Fridays 312-427-8990, www.aidslegal.com through Oct. 31. 11 p.m., 18+, $15 at Monday, Sept. 15 Friday, Sept. 19 Beyondmedia Education Premiere door or at www.theaterland.com, 777 Hamburger Mary’s HamBINGO with host- Chix Mix “Girls Military Ball” event to screening of “HIV: Hey, It’s Viral,” a N. Green St. ess Regina UPright every Monday. All celebrate the gay and lesbian armed production of Beyondmedia Education Undergear and Instinct Magazine proceeds from bingo card sales go to a forces. Circuit, 3641 N. Halsted St., and Broadway Youth Center. Reception Search for next hottest model. An different charity each week. 8-10 p.m., $10 or $7 with discount (e-mail chix- 6:30 p.m., screening 7 p.m., under 25 open call event for the Model Search 5400 N. Clark St. [email protected]) free, over 25 $25, Center on Halsted, competition. 7-9 p.m., event 10 p.m., Congregation Or Chadash Shabbat Ser- Hydrate, 3458 N. Halsted, to enter see 3656 N. Halsted St. Tuesday, Sept. 16 vices every Friday at Chicago’s GLBT HERO WORSHIP Fruits of the www.undergear.com Columbia College Chicago Funky Buddha Lounge The final Out- synagogue. 8 p.m., 5959 N. Sheridan Loop LGBTQ Reception. All LGBTQ stu- Rd. (Emanuel Congregation building), Test Positive Aware Network’s “Aware Affair: danced, with Leslie and the Lys and Superheroes” gala will take place at MCA dents, faculty, staff and allies welcome. Saturday, Sept. 13 more. 10 p.m.-2 a.m., 728 W. Grand 773-271-2148 or office@OrChadash. 4-6:30 p.m., 731 S. Plymouth Court, Andersonville Music & BBQ Festival fea- Ave., 312-666-1695, www.funkybud- org. See www.OrChadash.org for details Loft, 1747 W. Hubbard. www.colum.edu/multiculturalaffairs turing local and national entertainment. dha.com and other programs. 12-10 p.m., 5500 block of N. Ashland Milwaukee Gay Arts Center “Alphabet Gerber/Hart Library “Cutting Edge Lec- Photo by Liz Granger Thursday, Sept. 11 Ave., $5 donation, 773-714-1542 ture Series: Kristin Parcell McCartney.” Troupe: abcdefghijk LGBTQIA rstu- Chicago Area Gay & Lesbian Chamber Ascension Church of Oak Park 13th An- 7 p.m., 1127 W. Granville Ave., www. vwxyz,” a gay cabaret, performs. Sept of Commerce Mix & Mingle special 3rd nual Festival of Potluck Foods. Food, gerberhart.org 19-20 at 7:30 p.m., Sept. 21 at 2 p.m., Saturday, Sept. 20 Annual Cruise Event. 4:30-8 p.m., Chi- music, art and performance. 1-4 p.m., Homolatte Lucy and E Nina Jay perform. $10 at door, 703 South 2nd St., Wil- cago’s First Lady, Michigan Avenue and corner of Van Buren and S. East Ave. Free, 7:30 p.m., Big Chicks/Tweet, waukee, Wis., 414-383-3727 Wacker Drive, $55 for members, $70 for in Oak Park 5024 N. Sheridan Ave., www.homo- Women & Children First Poetry reading non-members, www.glchamber.org Center on Halsted 2008 Career Expo. 11 latte.com by April Dawn Gosling and Susan Hahn. a.m.-4 p.m., Center on Halsted, 3656 Women & Children First Women’s Book 7:30 p.m., 5233 N. Clark St., 773-769- N. Halsted St., www.centeronhalsted. Group Special Meeting before discus- 6729 Friday, Sept. 12 org Affinity Annual Camping Trip at Starved sion of The Teahouse Fires by Ellis Chicago Lesbian Brunch Group Run Rock in Utica, Ill. $40/person, Avery. 7 p.m., 5233 N. Clark St., 773- with Frontrunners/Frontwalkers. Meet Saturday, Sept. 20 773-324-0377, www.affinity95.org for 769-6729 for food afterwards. Free. 9 a.m., To- Chicago Filmmakers Screening of The more info tem Pole, 3600 N. Recreational Dr. and Short Films of Kirthi Nath, who explores Center on Halsted Artist reception for Lakeshore Dr., [email protected] Wednesday, Sept. 17 themes of race and sexual identity, etc. David Joseph. Runs through Oct. 1. or http://gaypros.meetup.com/283 Windy City Gay Naturists “Bitch Bingo” 8 p.m. screening, $8 general, $7 stu- 6:30-9:30 p.m., $5 suggested dona- High Trek Adventure Scavenger hunt to with Gail and Gary. Bring towel, gym dents with ID, $4 members, 5243 N. tion, 3656 N. Halsted St., RSVP to help fight HIV/AIDS. 11 a.m. check-in, bag, legal photo ID. 7:30 p.m., $12 Clark St., www.chicagofilmmakers.org [email protected] to attend adventure starts at noon, Moonshine, fee and $22 with two drink tickets, Harold Washington Library Lesbian Congregation Or Chadash Shabbat Ser- 1824 W. Division St. Touche comedian Suzanne Westenhoefer per- vices every Friday at Chicago’s GLBT Lambda Legal Ladies on the Lake two- forms in Ladies of Laughter, a night of synagogue. 8 p.m., 5959 N. Sheridan hour cruise on Lake Michigan. 11:30 Thursday, Sept. 18 comedy. Benefits LCCP. 7:30 p.m., $35 (Emanuel Congregation building), 773- a.m.-2 p.m., Navy Pier, 312-663-4413 Center on Halsted Hurricane Season: general admission, 400 S. State St., 271-2148 or [email protected]. or [email protected] for info The Hidden Messages in Water, a two- 773-779-2399, www.madmanprod.com See www.OrChadash.org for details and Test Positive Aware Network Aware woman show. And Sept. 19. 7:30 p.m., Royal George Theatre Luba Mason with BLONDE AMBITION other programs. Affair: Superheroes gala. Tickets are $15 or $10 with student ID, 3656 N. Jim Sellers. 7:30 p.m., 1641 N. Halst- Energy Up Gallery Artist reception for Luba Mason and Jim Sellers will perform at $200-$300, MCA Loft, see www.tpan. Halsted St., www.centeronhalsted.org ed, tickets at www.ticketmaster.com or gay artist Bret Grafton. 6-10 p.m., com Lakeshore Theater Amy & Freddy per- in person at the theater box office the Royal George Theatre, 1641 N. Halsted. 1825 S. Halsted St. form. 8 p.m., $20, tickets at www.lake- Women & Children First Sappho’s Salon: (Also, listen to Mason’s Sept. 2 show on our Fair Wisconsin Fundraiser. Live music shoretheater.com A Night of Provocative Lesbian Diver- podcast at WindyCityQueercast.com) and more. 6 p.m. start, $25/person, Sunday, Sept. 14 sions with musical group Congress of Chicago Lesbian Brunch Group Tour fea- NewTown Writers Meeting. 7:30 p.m., The Artisan Gallery in Paoli, Wis., Gerber/Hart, 1127 W. Granville Ave. Starlings. 7:30 p.m., 5233 N. Clark St., 608-441-0143 or ccallsen@fairwiscon- turing the architecture of Riverwoods. Women & Children First Book launch 773-769-6729 sin.com for info Six hours and box lunch included. 9 a.m., ArcelorMittal Cityspace Gallery, of Out and Proud in Chicago: An Over- Flat Iron Artists’ Association smART- view of the City’s Gay Movement, ed- 22 Sept. 10, 2008 one from Chicago, especially the Kilo Kai team; SPORTS they did really well in a tough division. “To me, the biggest surprise was Hunters,” Chicago softball Albritton continued. “They went there as the walking-wounded, but ultimately did really well. Of all the Chicago teams, I think they were the teams place in one that really overachieved. One thing that was very apparent when you watch them on the World Series field is, the guys on the team are all very close By ROSS FORMAN friends and that shined through. They were very cohensive. I’m sure they wanted to go further, The six Chicago men’s softball teams participat- but they should be very proud of the way they ing in the 2008 North American Gay Ameteur played, where they finished. They were really fun Athletic Association (NAGAAA) Gay Softball to watch; they really played their hearts out.” World Series, held Aug. 22-30 in Seattle, fea- Unfortunately, none of Chicago’s female rep- tured third-, fourth- and fifth-place finishes. resentatives in the Amateur Sports Alliance of “I think it was a good showing for Chicago,” North America Softball World Series, also held in said Joe Cappelletti, manager of the “C” Division late August in Seattle, finished in the top three Hunters team that finished in fifth place. “The in any division. Chicago Crush, Spyner’s Raw En- fact that we sent two teams from three [of the ergy and Mic’s Girls were the teams representing four] divisions, and one team in each of those the Windy City. divisions place in the top five. … I think that’s Here are the NAGAAA World Series 2008 re- a very good showing. sults: “I also think it’s a good indication that we “A” Division accurately rank our players and put them in the Los Angeles Vipers - 1st Place appropriate division.” Atlanta Mudcats - 2nd Place The “B” Division Spin Cougars were the top Phoenix Toros - 3rd Place Chicago finisher, placing third. The “D” Division Atlanta Venom & Houston Force - 4th Place Kilo Kai Chargers finished in fourth place. “We took eight players from our regular-sea- “B” Division son team, and four players from other teams in Boston Club Cafe Crew - 1st Place the [Chicago Metropolitan Sports Association] Long Beach Roughriders - 2nd Place league,” Cappelletti said. “A team of [only] 12 Chicago SPIN Cougars - 3rd Place Spiked heels and spiked balls players for the World Series is a slim, bare-bones Boston Angels - 4th Place The volleyball was pink—naturally—and the play was, well, entertaining, to say the least. team, yet the team gelled together very well. Four volleyball teams competed Saturday, Sept. 6, at a private beach along Lake Michigan in Where people had shortcomings at times, others “C” Division Rogers Park at the inaugural Spike’d, a benefit for Chicago House. About 150 watched and more picked them up. Dallas Xplosion - 1st Place than $4,000 was raised for Chicago House, which provides housing and supportive services for Also playing in Seattle: the V2 Dragons (“B” Philadelphia Triple Play - 2nd Place people living with HIV and AIDS. Division), the Spin Wildcats (“C”) and the Broad- Twin Cities Edge - 3rd Place “It definitely was an enjoyable event,” said Jeremy Hilborn, manager of special events for way Cellar Crush (“D”). Twin Cities Mess - 4th Place Chicago House. “The money that comes in from an event like this helps allow us to continue “For all of the Kilo Kai players, it was their doing new work in new areas.” Spike’d was the brainchild of Chicagoans Paul Trout and Andrew first time playing in the World Series, so they “D” Division Edeker, and planning has been a three-month process, Hilborn said. were just thrilled with their fourth-place finish,” Seattle Atomic - 1st Place The Daises of Hazard came in first place, defeating the Wonder-Whores in the finals. The White said Shawn Albritton, manager of the Spin Wild- Atlanta Muddawgs - 2nd Place Trash Hookers claimed first place in the Best Dressed category, after collecting a team-high $309 cats and a member of the CMSA softball board of Boston Ramrod Machine - 3rd Place in tips/donations from spectators. Photos and text by Ross Forman directors. “It was a great experience for every- Kilo Kai Chargers - 4th Place

Chargers in charge The Kilo Kai Chargers were the regular season (record of 19-1) and playoff champions in Chi- cago Metropolitan Sport Association’s Sunday Open Division Softball—D1 Division, and placed fourth in the recent Gay World Series in Seattle. Photo courtesy of Kevin Boyer

Diamond girls The Chicago Metropolitan Sports Association (CMSA) softball leagues have not seen as much rain as they did this summer in well over 10 years. Thankfully, they couldn’t have asked for better weather during the championship games Aug. 24. In the D Division, TEC, sporting pink jerseys to identify themselves as a team working to fight breast cancer, beat out PYT Just Because, which was another team standing up in the battle against breast cancer. Chaos won in the C Division and the B Division championship was claimed by Hamburger Mary’s. The Mood Swings won the A Division for a second year in a row, making an impressive comeback to ultimately win 15-13. Photo (of The Mood Swings) and text by Mel Ferrand Sept. 10, 2008 23 CONNEXIONS MAKE IT YOUR BUSINESS We understand your needs. We can help you reach your goals.

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Download each issue of Windy City Times and Nightspots at www.WindyCityMediaGroup.com 24 Sept. 10, 2008

Come meet writers, photographers and editors from the groundbreaking new book, presenting an overview of more than 150 years of GLBT Chicago.

There are several events planned for the launch of the Chicago Gay History Project Web site (www.chicagogayhistory.org) and companion book, Out and Proud in Chicago: An Overview of the City's Gay Movement (Agate/Surrey, 224 pages, $30).

There will be co-authors at each of these events, depending on their own schedules. All events are free except for the Sept. 26 fundraiser.

Sept. 18, 2008: Book launch: Thursday, Sept. 18, 7 p.m. at Women & Children First Books, 5233 N. Clark Street, Chicago, 773-769-6729. Come meet many of the writers and photographers featured in this new book.

Sept. 26, 2008: History Project fundraiser featuring a rare Chicago appearance by national gay historian Jonathan Ned Katz and Chicago-based historian John D'Emilio. Hosted by Michael Leppen at the Sears Tower Metropolitan Club, 5:30-7:30 p.m., $500 donation. Call 773-387-2394 for details and tickets. Sign language interpreter available.

SPECIAL EVENT

Sept. 27, 2008: History Project and Community Book Launch, featuring more than a dozen of the writers from Out and Proud, plus Jonathan Ned Katz and John D'Emilio. Hear about the Web site's future and get copies of your book Special Guests signed. Saturday, Sept. 27, noon-2 p.m., Center on Halsted, 3656 N. Halsted. Sign language interpreter available. Jonathan Ned Katz William B. Kelley Author of Gay American Kelley is a longtime activist History and one of the nation’s who helped edit the book; FREE POSTER TO THE most important historians, in he will attend several two rare Chicago appearances, events, including Oct. 1. FIRST 50 PEOPLE! Sept. 26-27.

Oct. 1, 2008: The Chicago Public Library, Harold Washington Branch downtown, is hosting a panel John D’Emilio Chuck Renslow discussion of the Web site and book, 6 p.m., Wed., Oct. 1, Also a national historian and Renslow has been active in 6 p.m., 400 S. State Street, Chicago. This free event author, John D’Emilio will gay business and politics features panelists Tracy Baim, Marie J. Kuda, Jorjet attend several of the events, since the 1950s. He will Harper, William B. Kelley, Pat McCombs and Chuck including Sept. 18, 26 and 27. discuss the leather movement Renslow, followed by Q&A and booksigning. and history Oct. 1. Oct. 5, 2008: Centuries and Sleuths Bookstore hosts our first suburban Out and Proud booksigning, featuring writer Marie J. Kuda and Tracy Baim, Sunday, Oct. 5, 2-4 p.m., Marie J. Kuda Pat McCombs 7419 W. Madison Street, Forest Park, Ill., 708-771-7243. Chicago’s treasured historian McCombs helped fight and writer Marie J. Kuda will racial carding at gay bars in Oct. 11, 2008: National Coming Out Day is the occasion be at many of the events, the 1970s, and has been for this signing in Oak Park 2-4 p.m. at Borders, 1144 including the special Oct. 1 active in the movement Lake Street, 708-386-6927. Hear from Oak Parker Marie Chicago Public Library panel. ever since. She will speak J. Kuda, Tracy Baim and other writers about Coming Out Oct. 1. Day, the 10th anniversary of the Matthew Shepard murder, and its impact on Chicago.

Jorjet Harper Tracy Baim Oct. 12, 2008: A special far west suburban booksigning in Jorjet Harper, a writer and per- Baim is editor and co-writer St. Charles 2-4 p.m., at the TownHouse Books & Cafe, former who helped edit the of Out and Proud in 105 North 2nd Avenue, St. Charles, Ill., 630-584-8600. book, will also attend several Chicago, and she will be at of the events, including Oct. 1. each of the events listed here.

Available now at: Women and Children First Books Unabridged Books Centuries & Sleuths Bookstore And other area 5233 N. Clark St. 3251 N. Broadway 7419 W. Madison St. bookstores Forest Park, IL www.ChicagoGayHistory.org